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Home > Water Heaters > Important Features
Important FeaturesWater Heaters - Important FeaturesAnode RodThe anode rod attracts the rust and corrosion. The sacrificial catalytic action of these magnesium anodes can help to prevent rust or corrosion twice as much from attacking your water heater tank. Heating Elements Water heaters with the biggest burner and better heat transfer heat your water the fastest. Look for heaters with higher wattage. Swirling Devices Some heaters have a longer and thicker heating element vs a swirling device to prohibit the build-up of scale at the bottom of the tank. Scale is notorious for shortening the life of a heating element inside of the heater. Brass Drain Valve We only install heaters with a brass drain valve. Cheaper water heaters will have plastic drain valves which can easily crack, causing water to leak from the tank. Since the tank will keep refilling itself, a cracked plastic drain valve can cause serious flood damage. Glass Lined Tank Glass-Lined tanks reduce corrosion and premature leaking. Thicker Insulation Consider the size of the existing water heater and replacement water heater, even if the capacity of the water heater is going to stay the same. Gas water heaters have about 10% more insulation and electric heaters have about 5% more insulation in order to meet newer government standards, but this insulation has resulted in heaters with a diameter of as much as 4 inches bigger. This is a particular problem if your heater is placed in a closet, under a countertop, or in a storage room that was remodeled and now has a smaller door opening. Consider a gas heater Despite the cost to install gas and vent piping in your home, a gas water heater costs about half as much to operate as an electric water heater. They also recover quickly producing hot water faster. All manufacturers still recommend gas and carbon monoxide detectors be installed according to manufacturer's recommendations. Vapor Ignition Technology New government regulations require FVIR technology, Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant systems to keep the pilot light from igniting flammable vapors from products stored in the area. All heaters are still clearly labeled to still keep such items out of the area. All manufacturers still recommend gas and carbon monoxide detectors be installed according to manufacturer's recommendations. FHR The first hour recovery listing on the water heater will tell you the amount of hot water that can be produced. Click here to calculate your family's gallon per minute hot water usage during the busiest hour of an average day. A water heater's efficiency is measured by its energy factor (EF). EF is based on recovery efficiency, standby losses, and cycling losses. The higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater. Electric resistance water heaters have an EF ranging from 0.7 to 0.95; gas water heaters from 0.5 to 0.6, with some high-efficiency models ranging around 0.8; heat pump water heaters from 1.5 to 2.0. Water Heater Disclaimer: Customer has been advised that the water heater should remain set at 120 degrees as determined by the manufacturer and Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) standards. Top Areas / Zip Codes we service:Ellicott City, MD: 21042, 21043 |
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