What Is a Water Heater Anode Rod?
Given that a tank-style heater stores water for future use, you might wonder what keeps it from corroding while water sits in it. After all, most people have experienced how water or air interact with metal to create rust and other corrosion products.
Though you might never have seen it, your water heater contains a critical component that prevents it from corroding: a “sacrificial” anode rod. Without this piece correctly functioning, your hot water quality would suffer, and your water heater would not last nearly as long.
The Anatomy of an Anode Rod
An anode rod looks like a metal stick. It has a steel wire core that’s surrounded by “less noble” metals–metals that tend to corrode relatively quickly in water (usually magnesium, aluminum, or zinc).
How They Work
An anode rod extends the life of a water heater by…
Tankless vs Traditional: What’s The Difference?
When choosing the right appliance for your home, many owners tend to eventually break down their choices between two different and best suiting options. Of course, this decision is based on a number of factors. What is best for my home? What operates at the lowest cost? Is this powerful enough for my home? The list, while seemingly going on and on, comes down to two major options when it comes to a water heater — tankless vs traditional. So in the eyes of the consumer picking one for their home, what’s best, and what differences can be seen between both?
Tankless
The California area has certainly been subject to its fair share of droughts throughout the years — and because of that, tankless water heaters have risen in popularity! For larger properties and for those looking to conserve water,…
Do I Need More Than One Water Heater?
In gauging the amount of hot water that your home or business needs, it might occur to you that one day, the amount of hot water produced by your water heater simply isn’t enough. And while that might sound like a small issue for some, it can be rather annoying when there’s a large demand for hot water without the resources to actually provide for it. Below are a few things to keep in mind when considering if a second hot water heater is for you or not.
Why Do You Think You Need It?
There’s a difference in thinking you need something and actually having a need for it. In many cases, people tend to believe that another hot water is the answer if their current one is small, and a larger replacement is a little out of budget.…
Finding the Right Water Heater to Fit Your Household
Every household has different needs dependent on the people that live there. One thing all homes have in common is finding the right fit for your water heater. In order to discover what will suite your family best there are a few things to keep in mind.
Firstly the Water Heater Capacity, secondly the First Hour Rating and lastly your Personal Peak water demand.
WATER HEATER CAPACITY PER PERSON
The water heater capacity for one person is recommended to be 10-15 gallons per person.
For family’s it is recommended:
•Two people: 30-40 gallons
•Three people: 40-50 gallons
•Four people: 50-60 gallons
•Five people: 60-80 gallons
While choosing a water heater, it is also important to keep in mind your family and how it functions. Do people in your household take long showers? What hours of the day do they take…
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Water Heater
All good things must come to an end; the same applies to your water heater. A well-maintained water heater will serve you well for about a decade, give or take a year on either end of that. But when your heater starts to give out, there are some tell-tale signs that you should have the professionals on speed dial.
Spotty Instances of Hot Water
As heaters get older, even if they are well maintained, they do eventually slip in functionality. The most obvious sign your water heater is on the way out is that you aren’t getting hot water. As it slows down with old age, your heater will have trouble heating up the water. If your water’s cold, it’s probably time to call in a replacement.
Rust in your Water
Anode rods are…
The Importance of a Quality Water Heater Install
Preserving your home and its components are integral parts of being an actual homeowner — and while it may seem as if certain areas and appliances can go a few extra days or weeks without a second look when something seems off, your water heater is an extremely important factor to never take advantage of. Without a properly functioning water heater, your home (or even business) may sustain unwanted costs, damage, and other issues associated with the unit itself. It’s for these reasons (and more) that the importance of a quality water heater install becomes a necessity, and we’ve got a few reasons below.
Reducing Home Damage
The last thing a new or existing homeowner wants to come home to is water damage due to a faulty or poor installation. Not only does this drive up costs for the entire…
When Is The Right Time To Call an Expert?
Let’s face it — working on something on your own, saving the money, and stepping back to be able to say you were the one who solved an issue is a great feeling. In fact, it can be something many home and business owners consider as a right of passage to being a true homeowner. However in the case of many major appliances, specifically your water heater, it might be worth it to call an expert to have the job handled when appropriate. Below are a few times to consider calling an expert, rather than pulling out your own set of tools for the job.
Leaking Water
If leaking water is present in your home near the water heater, it’s not ideal to figure out how to jerry rig something together and stop the water flow temporarily — unless you…
Don’t Let Your Money Go Down the Drain: Easy Ways To Reduce Your Water Bill
No one likes paying bills. It’s one of the few things all of us have in common. There’s nothing you can do about it, you still have to pay them. That isn’t to say that there’s nothing you can do to decrease how much you pay month-to-month. We’ve whipped up a few easy ways to reduce your water heating costs
Energy-Efficient Water Heaters
The best way to ensure a lower water bill is to get yourself set up with a top-of-the-line energy efficient water heater. The wrong water heater can actually cost you more money at the end of the month. The right tool for the right job.
At Payless, we always recommend our customers opt for solutions that cost less and last longer, and a reduced water bill is one of the benefits…
Tips For Choosing a New Water Heater In California
Choosing a new water heater in California can seem like an overwhelming task. There are many factors to consider when choosing your new water heater such as:
- Tank style
- Size
- Fuel type
- Energy efficiency
- Cost
Tank Style
There are two main options for water heaters in California today: tankless water heaters and conventional tank heaters.
The traditional tank heater will be installed in a basement or laundry room since the tanks tend to be larger in size. These heaters work by storing hot water in a tank that is pumped to wherever the tap has been turned on in your home. They can vary in efficiency depending on the fuel…
What Is Inside A Water Heater?
What is inside a water heater? Well, obviously water. But what else? One might guess some sort of element that makes the water hot. But otherwise, the inside of a water heater remains a mystery. We’re here to change that. As water heater experts, we’ve broken down exactly what is inside a water heater!
The Inside Of A Water Heater
There are several types of water heaters, including storage tank water heaters and tankless water heaters, but most water heaters have the following components:
Tank: This is where the water is stored and heated. The hard exterior that is visible to you is rarely hiding water on the other side, though.
Insulation: The tank that holds the water is insulated to help…
