Gas and Electric Water Heater Information

Water heaters may appear to be simple appliances. There aren't a whole lot of moving parts - in fact, there really aren't any moving parts. But they are quite sophisticated and replacement of your water heater should only be done by a licensed professional.

Any reputable plumbing contractor can give you all the information you need to make the right decision about your next water heater. These are some of the things a contractor should consider before just replacing your tank with a similar model.

First, does your existing water heater provide enough hot water? If not, it could be because it's old and running at less than capacity, or you may need a larger tank. If you increase the size of the tank you may need a larger flue pipe and in some cases, a larger gas supply.

Another factor to consider is whether your happy with your existing heater's recovery rate. After emptying the tank does it re-heat quickly enough? A quick recovery tank uses an extra heating element or bigger burners to heat the water more quickly. Be sure to consider your options.

It might be a good time to move your water heater. Now's the time to do it if you've been thinking about freeing up that closet space that the water heater's taking up. It will be less expensive to do it while you're replacing the tank.

Is your installation up to code? Your plumber will know if you need anything to comply with newer codes. In some places seismic bracing or garage bollards are required. T&P lines need to be run in a very specific way using special piping.  Flue pipe needs a certain amount of clearance from combustibles. These are a few things that may have been overlooked the last time someone installed your water heater.