13 Aug Why Professional Water Heater Installation Is Better Than DIY
Water heater installation is a heavy-duty DIY project. Are you sure you want to take it on yourself? If you’re less than 100% confident you possess the skills and equipment, it might be worth calling a professional service.
Canadians use an average of 75 litres of hot water per day. This includes showering, washing dishes or clothes, and cleaning. We rely on hot water for most of our daily tasks. Once the hot water starts being temperamental, it can throw a wrench into even the most basic of jobs. Showering with spotty hot water? Not most people’s idea of relaxation.
Water heaters are complicated machines, consisting of many moving parts that heat to very high temperatures. Water tanks come in two varieties: electric and fuel-fired. You may also have a tankless heater. It’s difficult to know the ins and outs of each type of heater unless you’re highly studied and skilled in that area. That’s where a professional can help.
Why Hire a Professional?
For the fee you pay a professional installer to look after your water heater, you can save thousands of dollars in energy inefficiency costs down the road. Since water heater energy usage accounts for such a significant part of every household budget, it’s worth the investment to have it running as smoothly as possible. Low-efficiency household appliances can sap more energy than necessary, making an upgrade preferable.
Should You Repair or Replace?
Once that icy shower hits, you’ll be faced with the choice to either repair or replace your water heater. Here are some points to consider to help you make the decision:
- How old is your heater? Most last around 10–13 years. If your heater is 10 or older, definitely replace it. New models (which can save you $700 over its lifetime) will rapidly provide a return on investment.
- It may be a case of an individual part being non-functional. If a pilot light goes out, a circuit breaker trips, a valve sticks, a burner or heating element fails, or a thermostat breaks, then the part can be replaced. A plumber’s visit will be a low cost compared to full replacement.
- If your water heater is leaking, definitely replace it. Minerals in water react with the inside of water heater pipes and gradually rust and weaken them. This, unfortunately, can’t be repaired.
- If your energy bill is suspiciously high and you want to get a head start on lifetime savings a new water heater can bring, go ahead and replace it. Putting it off could be a matter of putting off lowering your energy bill. Water heaters require yearly maintenance to flush out the gunk and sediment that accumulates inside. It’s far more economical to maintain your water heater regularly than to react only when large problems crop up. Just like you take your car in for oil changes, a water heater flush makes the whole unit run better.
Replacing Your Water Heater
When looking to replace your water heater, take stock of the information on the sticker of your old one. This will give you valuable information about its power and holding capacity. You’ll be better equipped to consider these factors in your next water heater:
- Gallon capacity (40 to 50-gallon holding capacities is most common)
- Recover rate (how many gallons your heater can heat per hour)
- Physical dimensions (height and width it needs to fit inside it’s designated space in your house)
- Energy efficiency (a sticker on the side of the unit will contain an estimate for the sum of energy usage costs over its lifetime)
It can take a long time for a non-professional to complete the replacement process on their own, which is not an option for most households. Especially residences with families, the absence of a water heater would be too much of an inconvenience to ignore. Water heaters are also heavy, cumbersome machines. You need to have physical strength and some help to carry such a large machine up or downstairs. You also need to consider how you’ll remove the old unit. Professionals handle these units every day and are not fazed by the challenge of transporting a water heater.
Replacing your water heater is a good decision if it’s getting on in years and not performing at its best. A lethargic, inefficient water heater can cause glitches in your hot water supply and run your utility bill higher. Newer models benefit from advances in technology over the past several years, making them truly efficient and high performing. Those cold showers may be great to help you wake up, but we can guarantee friends and family won’t appreciate them.
Established in 2012, HMS Plumbing provides top-rated plumbing services in the Toronto area including residential services, construction, and commercial maintenance. For more information, please call us at 877-317-5593 or contact us here.