Every home in Langley needs hot water. Therefore, a water tank is something you cannot do without. But there are times when a hot water heater will malfunction, and you will need to replace it or install a new one.

Meanwhile, installing or repairing a hot water tank is not a project for everyone. You can actually do it within a day if you have the required tools and follow the necessary steps. If you want to learn more about Langley water tank installation, you will do well to read on.

Types of Hot Water Tanks

Having the right type of water tank in your home offers you a lot of benefits. Before now, only one type of water heater was available. Today, there are various models that you can choose from and you need to find the best one that can best serve your family’s needs. They differ in price, so if you are on a budget, you need to determine how much you are willing to spend before you make a purchase.

Here are the common types of hot water tanks you can find:

1. Conventional Storage Tank Water Heater

This type is a tank that contains the water to be heated. The tank’s capacity determines the volume of hot water that will be available to you at a time. The water will stay warm until when you need it because the tank is insulated.

Furthermore, the tank has 2 valves: pressure release and temperature control valves. The pressure release valve opens to decrease the pressure in the tank when it reaches 150 psi while the temperature control opens to release heat and regulate the temperature of water in the tank when it reaches around 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

The conventional storage tank is a type of water tank that is common in many homes, but it limits you to the capacity of the tank. If you have a small tank and your hot water needs are large, you will run out of hot water quickly. You will also have to wait to refill the tank and heat it up again.

You can read more about this type of heater in this article.

2. On-Demand or Tankless Hot Water Heater

As you may have guessed, a tankless water heater has no tank. It is also known as an on-demand water heater because it has coils that get super-heated to produce heated water as soon as you need it. If you have a large family that needs a large volume of hot water at the same time, this type of heater will be a good choice.

The heater has different sizes and it is important to get the accurate size for your family. If you get one that cannot keep up with your hot water usage, you will end up with cold or lukewarm water. This water heater model works well in households that power their water heater with natural gas. However, larger models need a large gas line to accommodate more gas.

There are also models that work with electricity. This means that if you are using a large model, you will need to increase your home’s electricity capacity, and this could be expensive.

3. Hybrid or Heat Pump Water Heater

This type of water heater utilizes heat in the air and ground to heat up water. In this case, electricity is only required to move the heat from the air or ground to the water. It is not needed to produce the heat.

A hybrid water heater can use 60% less electricity compared to other types of water heaters. You can learn more about heat pump water heater here: https://www.energystar.gov/products/water_heaters/high_efficiency_electric_storage_water_heaters/how_it_works

4. Solar Powered Water Heater

This type of water heater is really energy-efficient as it relies on solar panels that are mounted on rooftops for energy. The energy generated is moved to a closed-loop system that contains a material that can conduct heat. This material is what heats up the water inside the tank.

If you live in a sunny climate, this type of water heater can save you some money on days when the sun is high. But it also needs a backup such as electricity or natural gas to heat water on cloudy days.

When Do You Need to Replace Your Water Heater?

Here are signs that show you need to replace your water heater:

1. The Heater Is Too Old

Most water heaters last for as long as 8 to 10 years. But gas-powered heaters last between 6 to 8 years. Although the age for replacement is 10 years, you may need to replace it before then. Whether the heater is showing signs of replacement or not, ensure you install a new one a decade after the manufacturing date.

2. Rusty Valve

Although steel is a very strong material, its weakness is rust. When a steel surface corrodes, it spreads to various spots in a slow manner. When a water pipe or steel tank is rusted, it is a sign that leakage may occur at any moment.

However, the challenge is that if the rust is occurring inside the water heater or the pipes leading to the faucet, it may be hard to tell. But if you see rust in your hot water, it means the valve is rusty. Whatever the case may be, rust is a problem that has to be rectified, at least for the health of your household. Using water that contains elements of rust may be harmful.

A good way to ascertain if the rust is coming from the pipes or the water tank is to collect several buckets of hot water from the heater. By the third round, if the water is still rusty, it means the rust is coming from the tank, not the pipes. That is a sign that you need to replace your water heater because leaks may occur if the rust cuts through the steel.

3. Noise in the Tank

As soon as you notice unusual water heater noise, it could be a sign that it needs to be replaced. As the tank ages, the noise will become louder when it heats up the water. This noise is caused by the build-up of sediments in the tank.

Conclusion

We have discussed the different types of water heaters that are available in the market. It is important to decide on what you need for your household before making a purchase. We have also discussed the signs that tell when your hot water tank needs to be replaced. Ensure you lookout for those signs before the issue escalates. Of course, you can’t afford to run out of hot water.