Plumbing Guides
Water Heaters
Age, lifespan, warning signs, tank vs tankless, and what Florida requires when one is replaced.
Water Heaters How old is my water heater, and when should I replace it? The manufacture date is coded in the serial number on the label. Most tank water heaters last 8 to 12 years, and less in a hot Florida garage with hard water. Once yours… Water Heaters No hot water? Check these four things before you call Most no-hot-water calls come down to a tripped breaker, a tripped high-limit reset button on an electric heater, a pilot or status light that is out on a gas heater, or… Water Heaters Tankless or tank water heater: which is right for a Southwest Florida home? A tank is simpler, easier to install, and easy to swap like for like. A tankless unit lasts longer, saves space, and never runs out, but it needs a larger gas line or a… Water Heaters Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs? If only the hot water smells, the cause is inside the water heater: harmless sulfate-reducing bacteria in the tank react with the magnesium anode rod and make hydrogen… Water Heaters Should I turn off my water heater when I leave for the season? Yes. A gas heater goes to its Vacation setting; an electric heater gets its breaker turned off, and in both cases the main water valve to the house should be closed. Do… Water Heaters Water heater in a closet or attic: pans, drains, and what code wants Any water heater where a leak would damage the house needs a pan under it, and the pan needs its own drain to the outside or an approved drain point. The relief valve… Water Heaters Expansion tanks: why your new water heater came with one Water expands as it heats. In an older home that pressure pushed back into the city main, but a backflow preventer, pressure regulator, or check valve at the meter seals… Water Heaters Heat pump water heaters in a Florida garage A heat pump water heater pulls heat out of the air around it and puts that heat into the tank, using a fraction of the electricity of a standard electric heater. A hot… Water Heaters Tired of waiting for hot water? Recirculating pumps explained Hot water is slow because the pipe between the heater and the faucet is full of cooled water that has to be pushed out first. A recirculating pump keeps hot water moving… Water Heaters Water heater relief valve is dripping or discharging: what it means The relief valve opens when the tank's pressure or temperature goes past its limit, and it is the one safety device on the heater. A slow drip after a heating cycle…