Tureks Plumbing Services Blog: Posts Tagged ‘water heater repair’

Things To Know When Installing A Tankless Water Heater

Tuesday, April 25th, 2017

Also known as a “demand type” water heater, a tankless water heater provides hot water only when needed. As such, it does not produce standby energy losses, which saves you money.

How a Tankless Water Heater Works

Water is being heated without the use of a storage tank. Cold water will travel from a pipe to the unit if a hot water tap is turned on. This means a tankless water heater delivers a steady supply of hot water. In other words, you do not have to wait for the storage tank to be filled up with enough hot water each time you need to use it.

Why Opt for a Tankless Water Heater?

  • Heating costs will be reduced – Enjoy monthly savings of up to 40% off your utility bill for the product’s life. Heating and reheating water in the storage tank is not required.
  • Only a small amount of space is needed – As compared to traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters will take up less space since this is just about the size of a small suitcase or even smaller.
  • Eco-friendly – Tankless water heaters are 30% more energy-efficient than tank water heaters. Maximum energy efficiency will help conserve natural resources.
  • Long-lasting – It has a longer lifespan for up to twice as much as that of the traditional water heater. This further means less waste in the landfill.
  • Clean – Avoid using water stored in a tank with accumulated rust.
  • Safe – A tankless water heater is equipped with excellent safety features to prevent injuries and burns caused by boiling water.

Installing and Maintaining Demand-Type Water Heater

Proper installation will greatly depend on different factors. These include the following:

  • Local building code requirements
  • Climate
  • Fuel type
  • Safety issues

Regular water heater maintenance is also important to extend the life of the water heater. This will also decrease loss of efficiency.

Proper installation and maintenance are very crucial to optimize the water heater’s energy efficiency. Therefore, it is best to have a licensed, skilled plumbing and heating contractor to install your tankless water heater.

Tips for Choosing the Right Contractor

  • Ask for references. Satisfied customers will give you peace of mind.
  • Request cost estimates from different contractors. Make sure that these estimates are for completed work and not just for sections of the system.
  • Check if they can get a local permit when necessary.
  • Determine if they fully understand local building codes.
  • Check if the plumbing contractor company is a member of the Better Business Bureau.
  • Sign the contract only after you’ve read and understood it.

If you’re looking to install a tankless water heater, please call us today!

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Posted in Bathroom Remodel, Commercial Plumbing, Fox Valley Plumber, Kitchen Plumbing, Kitchen Remodel Planning, Plumbing Problems, Plumbing Trends, Remodel Contractor, Residential Plumbing, Uncategorized, Water Efficiency, Water Heater, Water Heater Instillation, Water Heater Repair, Water Pressure | Comments Off on Things To Know When Installing A Tankless Water Heater

How To Deal With Water Pressure Issues

Tuesday, April 18th, 2017

Low water pressure is the reduction in the pressure of the water that causes it to fail to reach the top level of the house. It is one of the water pressure issues that homeowners wouldn’t want to experience and deal with.

Identifying the root cause will greatly help in managing the problem. If you don’t determine and fix the main cause, it is highly possible that you will experience the same issue over again. If worse comes to worst, recurrent low water pressure could result in structural damage to the home.

Causes of low water pressure problems

  • Damaged or defective water pressure regulator. This bell-shaped device is preset by manufacturers and often does not need adjusting. But like any device, it gets old and malfunctions.
  • Water or plumbing leaks. Any damage to your home’s plumbing system may cause leaks or water to escape. This results in a decrease in the pressure of water.
  • Debris buildup inside the pipes. Dirt, sand and other debris may enter your plumbing system, which then causes a buildup and blockage in the pipes.
  • Corrosion buildup in pipes. Water causes steel or galvanized piping to corrode. Over time, the corrosion causes sediments to deposit and block passageways.

Dealing with low water pressure 

  • Check the water pressure in your entire house. Check the bathroom, kitchen, basement, and outdoor faucets to identify if the issue appears in one area only or if the entire house is affected.

If you are experiencing low water pressure in a specific area only, such as the sink faucet in the kitchen or the shower in the bathroom, it is highly possible that the aerator, valve, or pipe is clogged. Take off the aerator or valve and clean or replace it.

  • Check for leaks and repair leaking pipes. To detect cracks of damages to pipes that cause leaking, shut off the water valve in your house and check the meter. Come back after some time and check the meter again; if there is an increase in the meter reading, then there is a leak. Minor leaks can be repaired using DIY techniques, but major leaks require the attention of professionals.
  • Check for a malfunctioning water pressure regulator. A problematic pressure regulator needs fixing or replacing. If you are not well-versed in fixing or hooking up a pressure regulator, it is best to leave it to certified plumbers.
  • If corrosion buildup is identified to be the cause of the problem, pipe restoration or pipe replacement should be done.

If you’re in need of help with water pressure issues, contact us today!

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Posted in Commercial Plumbing, Emergency Plumber, Fox Valley Plumber, Kitchen Plumbing, Plumbing Problems, Plumbing Trends, Remodel Contactor, Uncategorized | Comments Off on How To Deal With Water Pressure Issues

When To Replace Your Hot Water Heater

Tuesday, April 11th, 2017

Once you have a water heater installed, you can rely on this piece of equipment to give you hot or temperate water whenever you need to take a bath.

But although you can expect this system to give you years and years of comfortable baths, there will come a time when it will stop working properly. And if you don’t want to be unexpectedly drenched in freezing water on a particularly cold morning, you need to know when to replace your hot water heater so that you can avoid such an uncomfortable, shocking situation.

There are certain signs that would indicate that you need to replace your water heater immediately. These include the following:

Your heater is already more than 10 years old.

Most water heaters last between 10 and 15 years. Once your system passes the 10-year mark, you will start encountering issues every now and then and you will soon find yourself spending a lot of money on repairs. Unfortunately, having your heater repaired regularly only delays the inevitable. You would do well to put all that money on a new heater.

Recurring loud, unusual noises.

As the years go by, sediment will build up in your water heater tank. You will soon hear banging or rumbling sounds from your heater due to the obstruction inside the tank.  Although a plumber will be able to remove small amounts of buildup, there will come a time when the sediment will harden and this will become too difficult to take out. Aside from causing loud noises, this hard sediment may make your heater inefficient.

Excessive leaks.

The presence of puddles of water around the heater or water seeping down the sides of the heater are usually signs that the water heater tank may be fractured. If this is the case, you will have no choice but to replace the heater to get rid of the existing leaks and prevent any further damage.

Rust around the fittings.

If the fittings around your water heater are corroded, or look rusted or worn down, this may indicate that there is an issue with the unit as a whole. Corrosion is even more likely if the leaks appear around the valves or the pipework. A professional plumber can help you decide whether it will be worth your while and your money to have the issue fixed by replacing the damaged part or if it is best to simply replace your heater with a new one.

It is producing less hot water.

Lastly, if you start noticing that there is a lack of hot water coming from your heater even if you play with the settings, this is usually a sign that your equipment is no longer working efficiently. This is especially true if you observe a sudden decrease in the amount of hot water or that your hot water never seems to get hotter than lukewarm.

You don’t have to immediately buy a new heater if you notice that your current one is starting to act up. A plumber will be able to help you decide if an old heater is worth repairing or if it is best to buy a new one. Call us today to set up an appointment!

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Posted in Bathroom Remodel, Commercial Plumbing, Kitchen Plumbing, Kitchen Remodel Planning, Remodel Contractor, Residential Plumbing, Water Efficiency, Water Heater, Water Heater Instillation, Water Heater Repair, Water Pressure | Comments Off on When To Replace Your Hot Water Heater

Common Issues Causing Water Heater Repair

Wednesday, June 1st, 2016

water heater repairman

Without a doubt, a water heater repair is one of the most inconvenient home repairs. 

We don’t realize how absolutely miserable life can be until there is no hot water in the house.

Aren’t we fortunate to live in a time when we don’t need to heat up water at the stove in order to have a comfortable bath? How far we have come with technology is pretty amazing. In 2016 we tend to take for-granted  daily frequent water use, like washing our hands, or giving our kids a warm bath. You can attribute a water heater leak or breakdown to normal wear and tear most of the time, so it’s not anything unusual. As your local fox valley plumbers, one of our most common calls is for repair water heaters. Nonetheless, you still need to get it fixed right away in order to keep your everyday routine in tact. 

What are the common issues associated with water heater repair?

As plumbers, we are often called to address problems like leaks, strange sounds, and water temperature changes. For instance, if you notice a puddle forming around the bottom of the water heater, chances are the tank has sprung a leak. Water minerals corrode steel over time, so a leak usually means that there’s a crack somewhere along the interior of the heating tank and it’s time for a new one. Other times it’s a simple repair that may even be covered under the warranty of your water heater. It all just depends on the age of the system and volume of use over time. For this, you need to call your local plumber to install the replacement part or to help you choose a new water heater. Of course, a leak may originate elsewhere. At any rate, your plumber will tell you what the source of the problem is and what his recommended remedy is. 

When your water heater starts producing strange noises like whining, bangs, creaks, or squeals, you need to have it checked out by a plumber. Most of the time, those noises are due to sediment that settles at the bottom of the tank. When it comes into contact with the heating component, sounds produced by the debris heating up will be easily audible. To find out what’s really causing the noise and to conduct the necessary mending, call your plumber for a diagnosis.

Other signs of a troubled water heater

  • When your water heater is not reaching the heat temperature as it used to, this is a signal that your heater needs to be checked out. Look at your thermostat and see if it’s working properly. Whether the problem is with the heating tank or with the thermostat, your system requires inspection and possible repair.
  • If your water heater is not giving you hot water at all, then something’s obviously wrong. With gas heaters, the trouble usually involves a faulty pilot light; with electric tanks, it could be a tripped breaker. Your plumber will find out what’s causing the problem and let you know about appropriate fixes.
  • The most obvious need for water heater repair will come when you have flooding from your water heater. Although this is more of an extreme example, it does happen typically due to old age and overall system failure.  In this case, it is time to replace your water heater.

Anytime you need water heater repair, Fox Valley customers can count on Turek’s Plumbing to make an accurate diagnosis and deliver the appropriate fix.

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