Cypress Water Heaters
Every day we need hot water for multiple purposes in our lives. To get a nice shower, wash the dishes and do laundry. Your water heater is actually a very personal choice. Your needs determine the size, from 10 gallons to 200, electric or gas and tank type or tankless water heater. Hot water heater servicing, installation and repair have been a Cypress Plumbing specialty since we opened our doors.
We can also provide water heater installation. It is very important for the water heater to be installed correctly and adjusted accurately to avoid scalding yet still provide plenty of hot water for all your needs. All components of the system including emergency drip pan, vent piping, gas cut off and connector are evaluated and replaced if necessary, saving time and money.
A gas-fired water heater is like an electric unit in many respects (glazed tank, anode rode, dip tube, relief valve), but its open-flame heating components require design differences. A flue tube runs through the center of the tank, from bottom to top. Viewed from above, the tank looks like a donut. To capture latent exhaust-gas heat, a wavy steel damper is suspended in the flue like a ribbon. The bottom of the tank is convex, which helps send sediment to the outer edges. At the bottom of the heater is the circular burner, and at the top, the exhaust-gas flue hat.
An electric water heater consists of a welded steel inner tank covered by insulation and a metal outer cabinet. The inner surface of the steel tank is coated with a furnace-fired porcelain lining, often described as a glass lining. The bottom of the tank is slightly convex, which helps to control sediment, and a drain valve sits just above the bottom of the tank. The top of the tank has two water fittings and sometimes a separate anode fitting. The top (or upper side) of the heater also contains a fitting for a temperature-and-pressure (T&P) relief valve.
Two resistance-heat electrodes, called elements, heat the water in the tank. Each element is controlled by its own thermostat. The thermostats are joined electrically so that they elements can be energized in sequence: the bottom element comes on only when the top one shuts off. The elements are threaded or bolted into the unit, and the thermostats are surface-mounted next to the elements, covered by access panels and insulation. To help keep the tank from rusting, a magnesium anode rod is installed through the top of the heater. And finally, a dip tube usually hangs from the inlet fitting and delivers incoming water to the bottom of the tank.
Here is a little about plastic tanks. Electric water heaters with plastic tanks carry a lifetime warranty and cost about the double the price of standard water heaters. Plastic makes an ideal tank because it can’t corrode. Sediment can be a problem in plastic heaters, but it’s more manageable: they have rounded bottoms with large, centered drain plugs for easy draining, plastic tanks are also highly insulated.
Residents that require a lot of hot water for a large family, have specialized shower systems or those who really enjoy extra long showers find the tankless unit appealing. The tankless water heater is more energy efficient since only the water needed is heated. A tankless unit can be installed in an attic thus freeing up utility room space or the water closet. With a tankless unit you have no worry of a huge water issue that can occur when a water tank leaks. We gladly walk through the pros and cons of each type of water heater so that you can make an educated decision that is right for your family. We can assist you with any and all water heater issues that you may have.