Water Heater Basics: Types, Parts and How They WorkGULFPORT, MS

Water Heater Basics: Types, Parts and How They Work

Water heaters are a basic but essential part of a home’s plumbing system. However, many homeowners are unaware of the logistics of it all, especially when it comes to choosing the right one. If you are in the market to get a new one installed, or you are simply looking into getting it repaired, you may want to familiarize yourself with some water heater basics, including the type of water heaters out there, the main parts and how they work. .

Types of Water Heaters
Most homeowners are used to seeing a standard storage water heater, which is powered by either gas or electricity. It also comes in a hybrid option! The newer models that are found in new construction smart homes are called tankless water heaters and are also powered through a gas or electric option. Then, there are the point-of-use water heaters, which are usually found under sinks or in mobile homes. Point-of-use water heaters also come in tank or tankless models. Lastly, the hybrid or smart water heaters are sold in the form of a thermostat or tankless option and are known to be highly efficient.

Main Parts
Water heaters all have many components and main parts that help them properly function. These consist of supply lines, water heater pans, expansion tanks and various elements consisting of different materials such as titanium, copper or stainless steel all varying in different wattages. Supply lines help to simply connect to existing pipes for gas or electric water heaters. Drain pans are used to help with leaks within temperature changes and are made of various rust-free materials such as aluminum, plastic galvanized steel and more. Expansion tanks are thermal tanks that help prevent backflow and system pressures, protect against leaks, reduce pressure from valve settings and more. They each vary in capacity, working pressure and temperatures. Lastly, the heating elements work for performing an even heat distribution for a longer period of time.

As we can see, each part of a water heater is quite complex and has various functions, but a professional plumber is able to identify each one and make repairs and installation as necessary.

How They Work
A water heater’s main function is to provide hot water for everyday needs, such as showers, washers and for cooking purposes. Though they all display the same function, they all work a bit differently. Consider a standard tank water heater; it can hold a large capacity and is also large in size, but does take up a lot of space and use up alot of energy. Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, gives you unlimited hot water, is mounted to a wall so it takes up less space and is known to help save energy while doubling the lifespan to that of a standard one. Point-of-use heaters are used in place of electric or gas tanks and hooks up to almost any plumbing fixture. Smart heaters give you Wifi features allowing you to monitor energy use, temperature control and notifies you of leaks all in the palm of your hand.

Take advantage of the various water heaters available and make the switch today. Contact ASAP Plumbing at 228-865-2727 or visit www.plumbinggulfportms.com and request a free estimate! We can handle all your plumbing needs including installation, repair and full water heater replacement.