Bayonet Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for the ‘Water Heater’ Category

Risks of Skipping Water Heater Maintenance

Monday, April 15th, 2024
Residential Water Heater

If you’ve been skipping out on the water heater maintenance, you are putting your water heater at risk. The good news is that it’s not too late to schedule an appointment with our team and get back on track with water heater care. In addition to checking your water heater over ourselves, we can also offer tips for homeowner water heater maintenance steps.

Water heater maintenance provides many benefits. Not only does it keep your water heater operating at peak efficiency, but it’s also an investment in the longevity of your water heater’s lifespan. If you’ve never had a tune-up for your water heater or you know it’s overdue, just give us a call to schedule water heater maintenance in Orlando, FL. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about why your water heater needs maintenance and what steps you can take to care of the system whether it is a tank or tankless model.

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What Water Heater Should I Get for My Investment Property?

Monday, March 4th, 2024
orlando-florida

The Sunshine State is home not only to millions of snowbirds, but also has its fair share of property owners who rent out properties on vacation sites. When deciding on what type of water heater to install in a property that isn’t necessarily inhabited year-round, or one that must meet the needs of discerning guests, there are different factors to take into consideration.  

The main decision you’ll need to make is whether to go with a tank vs a tankless water heater. Let’s go over the pros and cons of each type of system so you can make an informed decision when the time comes. No matter what type of water heater you choose, count on us for a faultless, stress-free installation process.

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How Florida’s Hard Water Affects Water Heaters

Monday, April 3rd, 2023
hard-water-damage-on-a-water-heater's-heating-element

Florida is known for having one of the highest hard water levels. Some people think that because hard water isn’t harmful to humans to drink, it’s not harmful to your plumbing. Hard water can wreak havoc on anything in your home that uses water, from your pipes to your appliances. 

One of your home’s costly appliances is its water heater. Scaling in your water heater is a result of hard water. This is harmful to your water heater because the minerals eventually accumulate and interfere with its performance. Learn more about scaling and how to tell if it’s happening to your water heater in Riverview, FL.

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Why It’s Time to Go With a Tankless Water Heater

Monday, January 23rd, 2023
tankless-water-heater-in-bathroom-wall

Your water heater is the workhorse of your home. Although here in Florida you rely on your air conditioner heavily in the summer, you need hot water on a daily basis, 365 days a year. 

If you’ve been thinking about getting a new water heater in Brandon, FL, perhaps you’ve wondered if your home would benefit from a tankless water heater. Although there are decidedly more pros than cons, let’s review them both. That way, you can decide if a tankless water heater is right for your home when it’s time for a new system.

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5 Signs Something Is Wrong With Your Water Heater

Monday, March 21st, 2022

In a place like Florida, there are plenty of days when a cool shower is a great idea. But that doesn’t mean you never want to need hot water. Hot water is necessary for a good number of things and being able to access it reliably takes a lot of worry off your mind. So what do you do when something is messing with your hot water supply?

On the hottest of days, you may not even notice when the hot water is actually lukewarm or even cool. But at other times this issue is likely more apparent. If you need help getting your water heater back into prime working order, you can reach out to us for help.

Here are some of the signs to be on the alert for that will tell you that your water heater is in trouble.

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Does Your Water Heater Need Repairs?

Monday, February 10th, 2020

Your water heater is perhaps one of the most important components of your plumbing system—how else would you take those long baths after a stressful day of work? But, like all important and hard-worked pieces of equipment, your water heater is bound to require repairs at some time or another.

Fortunately, there are a number of signs that indicate it’s time for Palm Harbor water heater services, and below, we have outlined some of them for you. All you have to do is keep reading to find out more (and of course, remember to schedule your services with our team!)

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Water Heater Maintenance…Tips and Tricks

Monday, July 23rd, 2012

A water heater is an appliance that your family uses every day.  When it fails to provide adequate hot water, clothing starts coming out of the wash looking dingy, dishes just aren’t as sparkly as they once were, showers aren’t long or comfortable enough and  it’s noticeable to all!  Know how to recognize the warning signs and know what to do when your water heater is not making the grade.

Some of the thing to keep an eye out for are:

  • Running out of hot water quicker than normal
    • This could indicate that you’re a victim of sedimentation, which is a buildup of sediment in the bottom of the tank. Sometimes, your water heater isn’t failing, the sediment  is the reason for running out of water too soon.  Sediment collects in the bottom of the water heater creating sludge that replaces water.  As a result the volume of water gets reduced and yout water heater has to work harder. Part of out MVP inspection is the draining and flushing of sediment from your water heater. It is the most overlooked task around a home, and we have some of the most sediment heavy water in the country!
  • Water suddenly looks rusty and smells bad
    • Rusty water can mean there is corrosion inside your water heater.  If this is the case, the tank and anode rods need to be checked, so we can determine which is the culprit and repair or replace the part if possible.
    • Bad odor in water.  This is also caused by sediment.  Over time sediment breeds bacteria.  A decaying anode gives off hydrogen gas, which nourishes the bacteria; these bacteria produce a nasty smell, like rotten eggs.  Get rid of the sediment to get rid of the smell.
  • Water heater makes noises
    • If your water heater is making noises, that may mean the water is overheating.  This again is attributed to the sediment buildup.  The noise is produced when the water in the tank begins to boil.
  • Water heater is leaking
    • If you have a puddle underneath your water heater, check it out.  This can be due to gaskets or fittings or nearby pipes.
    • The temperature pressure valve (TPR) can also create a puddle, make sure the TPR is closing correctly.   Sometimes the TPR is defective and will need to be replaced.  A non-functioning TPR valve is very serious and can even cause your tank to explode.  Have a professional plumber replace defective TPR valves immediately.
    • If you notice rusty water around the bottom of your water heater chances are the bottom has rusted out and it is leaking.  The only solution at this point is to replace your water heater.

 

One of the most important ways to prevent these common problems is to make sure you are following a regular maintenance plan with your water heater.  It is very important to drain your water heater annually.  This rids the tank of sediment buildup, which left unchecked causes a multitude of problems.

 

You can save money in the long run by avoiding breakdowns and extending the life of your appliance with regular water heater maintenance. So don’t sweat, call Bayonet, and you’ll be protected with 5 year warranties on any repair we make for as long as you’re an MVP member.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Raising The Efficiency on Water Heating

Monday, January 9th, 2012

When focusing on making your home more energy efficient, savvy homeowners take aim at their air conditioning unit first. That’s a smart thing to do. But what appliance should be next in line for improvement? You guessed it: your water heater.

Most homeowners in the Tampa area have a standard electric water heater with 40, 50, or 80 gallon capacity depending on the size of the home. Some homeowners are option for the tankless style water heaters. Check back on the 23rd of January for lots of information on those units.

For now, let’s discuss efficiency of those standard, tried-and-true electric, tank style water heaters. Simply put, there’s no way to make them super efficient, but you can help make the one you have work to its fullest potential. First, make sure your anode rod is not disintegrated and if it is replace it with a new one. This keeps the metal parts from corroding over time and extends the longevity of the water heater. Next, ask yourself this question: when was the last time the water heater was drained and cleared of sediment? Most homeowners answer that question with: “that needs to be done?” Yes, it does! Our Florida water is hard, which means it contains lots of minerals; minerals that build up in your tank and collect on the heating elements making the heater work harder to bring your water to an acceptable temperature.

If you’re an MVP member with Bayonet, this is a routine maintenance job that is included as part of the annual plumbing inspection. If you’ve never had it done, give your water heater some attention soon! Your wallet will thank you when you pay your next power bill.

If your water heater has reached the end of its life span and you’re shopping for a new one, heat pump water heaters are the most efficient available in a standard tank-style heater. They employ a small compressor that blows cool air out of the top of the unit, and the waste energy actually heats the water. It’s a great side benefit, as most water heaters are in garages and everyone in the garage benefits from a little cool down!

As a GE factory authorized dealer, we’re big fans of the GE heat pump water heater. It’s 10-year parts warranty shows consumers how much GE believes in it. It only comes in a 50 gallon tall model presently.

If you’ve recently replaced a tank style heater and didn’t know about this technology, you can still employ it thanks to the retro-fitted Air Tap, which converts the standard electric water heater into a heat pump with relative ease. We tested the Air Tap by installing it in an employee’s barn. She gets plenty of hot water, even on very cold days, and never even hooked the power up to the water heater. The beauty of the Air Tap–and all heat pump water heaters, for that matter–is how very little energy they use to heat water!

If you’re upgrading appliances this year, the water heater is a great place to focus!

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