Tips For Hiring A Bathroom Remodeler In Washington DC

August 21, 2018Bathroom Remodeling, DC Plumber, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

Many established plumbing companies now offer bathroom and kitchen remodeling services. These companies apply their extensive plumbing skills and experience in home remodeling projects with outstanding success. When it comes to bathroom remodeling, you will need the very best plumber or remodeler to ensure that the job is done perfectly. Bathroom remodeling projects are quite resource-intensive and you might end up wasting a lot of money if you hire an incompetent plumber for the project. That is why you should always consider the expertise and experience of the plumber in relation to bathroom remodeling projects before hiring him. You should also ensure that your bathroom remodeler is properly licensed, insured, and bonded as required by the law. And last but not least, you should always consider the terms of contract offered by the plumber before hiring him for your DC bathroom remodeling project. The following tips will help you hire the most reliable, competent, trustworthy, affordable, and legally compliant bathroom remodeler in Washington DC.

Consider Bathroom Remodeling Expertise And Experience

When looking for a professional bathroom remodeler in Washington DC, you should start your search on the internet. You can use various search engines like Google or Yahoo to search for any bathroom remodelers in the Washington DC area. After acquiring a list of plumbing companies that offer bathroom remodeling services in your locality, you can proceed to weed out the most incompetent and disreputable bathroom remodelers in DC. You can visit various online customer review platforms like Yelp and Angie’s List to determine the ranking and rating of various bathroom remodelers in DC. You can then proceed to determine the expertise and experience of the top rated bathroom remodelers in DC. This will involve contacting all the top rated local plumbers directly and asking them about their expertise and years of experience. You should only hire the most competent and experienced bathroom remodeler in the state for your project.

Consider The Terms Of Contract

One of the most important considerations when hiring a bathroom remodeler in DC is his terms of contract. When vetting the top rated bathroom remodelers in the state, you should ask them about your project. You should consult these leading bathroom remodelers regarding your project. Some plumbing companies offer free cost estimates for various plumbing projects. You can ask for a free cost estimate for your bathroom remodeling project from each of these top ranked local bathroom remodelers. You should also ask each of these bathroom remodeling companies about their other terms of contract including the warranty of the project, the project completion schedule, the quality of materials, the project handover timeline, and the communication and monitoring strategy for the whole project. You should compare the terms of contract offered by each of these top ranked bathroom remodelers before picking the most favorable.

Consider Licensing, Insurance And Bonding

And last but not least, you should always ensure that your bathroom remodeler is legally compliant. This means that you should ensure that the plumbing company is properly licensed at the state level. In other words, you should ask each of these top rated bathroom remodelers for their license number and verify it at the state level. You should also ensure that all the technicians or remodelers working on your project are properly insured and bonded as required by the law.

5 Common Causes Of Sewer Line Clogs

August 20, 2018Commercial Plumbing, DC Plumber, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Sewer Issues, Uncategorizedmatt

Sewer line clogs are some of the most expensive and disastrous plumbing problems at home. This is mainly because most sewer lines run underground. This creates a problem of access, which makes diagnosis of various sewer line problems almost impossible to an amateur. Plumbing companies use cutting edge plumbing technologies to diagnose and solve various sewer line issues. In order to diagnose a clogging problem in your sewer lines, the plumbing company will use underground video camera inspection. This is where the plumber will install a video camera inside your sewer lines and moves it along remotely until he finds the clog. The plumber monitors the movement of the video camera and sees everything inside the sewer lines using a video screen above the ground. Nowadays every established residential and commercial plumber in DC offers video camera sewer inspections. Plumbing companies use various technologies to unclog sewer lines. The most commonly used sewer line unclogging technologies include hydro jetting, and sewer snaking or rodding. Today we are going to look at the five main causes of sewer line clogs.

Broken Or Damaged Sewer Lines

Sewer lines wear out with time. After many years of usage, sewer lines get damaged and broken like all other installations. This is mainly caused by continued usage, corrosion, weight pressure by overlying structures and soil, and so on. If your sewer lines are broken or damaged, then you will suffer very serious clogging problems. This is mainly because the broken sewer lines do not drain liquid waste as well as they should. You will find that the damaged pipes maybe leaking or could have caved thereby blocking the flow of liquid waste from your house to the septic tank or municipal main sewer system. You should have all your sewer lines inspected regularly by a licensed plumber, to repair or replace any old damaged pipes in your sewer system to avoid sewer line clogs.

Tree Root Intrusion

Tree roots are another major cause of sewer line clogging. Big trees have very long and strong roots. These roots usually grow downwards and infiltrate your sewer line network. The roots can even penetrate the sewer lines and clog the sewer system by blocking the flow of liquid waste in the pipes. You should remove all big trees that grow above your sewer lines to prevent tree root intrusion.

Bad Flushing Habits

One of the most common causes of sewer line clogs is bad flushing habits. This is where people flush all kinds of waste down the toilet. The toilet should only be used to flush human waste. All other items including paper and cloth napkins, feminine products, and so on should not be flushed down the toilet to avoid clogging.

Bad Waste Disposal Habits

Just like bad flushing habits, bad waste disposal habits are a negligent and careless cause of sewer line clogs. Many people dispose solid waste in their sink drains. This is a major cause of drainage and sewer line clogging. You should also avoid dumping oils, fats, and greases in your sink because these coagulate inside your sewer lines thereby clogging the entire sewer system.

Sagging Sewer Lines

Underground sewer lines tend to sag after some time. This is mainly caused by natural and environmental factors like soil shifts. There is nothing you can do to prevent sagging sewer lines except having them inspected and replaced as soon as possible.

4 Telltale Signs That Your Water Heater Needs Repairs Or Replacement

August 19, 2018Commercial Plumbing, DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Sewer Issues, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

Water heaters and boilers require constant care and proper maintenance to ensure that they furnish all your hot water and air conditioning needs. There are three main types of water heaters, namely conventional storage water heaters, tankless water heaters, and hybrid heat pump water heaters. Tankless and heat pump water heaters can be expensive to buy and install but they have very low operational costs. Conventional storage water heaters are the most popular models because they are cheaper to buy and install. However, conventional storage water heaters are highly inefficient because they are prone to standby heat loss. When choosing a new water heater, you should always consider these factors. You should also consider the type of fuel that you are going to use. Water heaters use electricity, natural gas or propane, geothermal energy, fuel oil, or solar to heat water. Some hybrid models use two or more types of fuels. You should always ensure that your home water heater is in good working condition to avoid hot water problems. Look out for the following signs because they indicate that you need to repair or replace your water heater. These tips apply to businesses and commercial properties, as well. Any water heater issues or concerns should be checked out immediately by a professional commercial plumber to avoid costly repairs, safety concerns, and liabilities.

Water Heating Problems

If your water heater is not heating water properly, then you need to call your local plumber for repairs. There are many different types of water heating problems. You might notice that your water heater is not heating the water to the required or expected temperature despite the control dials showing these temperatures. This means that the water heater could be producing water at a lower temperature than the one you have set. This could be an issue with the heating element or the temperature control dials. If you notice such a problem, contact a professional plumber for DC water heater repair services. You might also notice that the water heater, especially the standard tank model, is producing lower amounts of water than expected. This could be an indication of a leak in the tank or the connecting pipes. Call your local plumber as soon as you notice any of these water heating issues.

Corrosion

Another key indication that your water heater requires repairs or replacement is corrosion. You can detect corrosion in your standard tank water heater from the quality of the heated water. If your water heater produces rusty-looking or rusty-tasting water, then the tank is corroded. Conventional storage water heaters have an anode rod that attracts all corrosive elements from the water. This rusty water is an indication that the anode rod is worn-out and needs replacing.

Leaking Tank Or Pipes

As mentioned above, one indication that your water heater is leaking is low hot water supply. You can inspect your water heater on your own to determine whether it’s leaking or not. Check the tank and the connecting pipes carefully for any leaks. You should call a professional plumber for assistance if you notice or suspect any leaks in your water heater.

Expired Warranty

Tankless water heaters last longer than conventional storage models. Standard tank water heaters last about 10 years, while tankless models last 20 years or more. You should consider replacing your water heater as soon as the warranty expires. This is to avoid costly repairs and functional inconveniences.

When It’s Time To Call An Emergency Plumber

August 18, 2018Commercial Plumbing, DC Plumber, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Sewer Issues, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

Many people do not like calling professional technicians for assistance when things go wrong at home. Whether it’s an electrical or plumbing problem, some of us prefer DIY solutions to professional assistance. The main reason why professional technicians are not so popular is money. Remember that all professional services cost money. That is why it’s rather gratifying when you can fix a technical problem in your house without calling your local plumber or electrician. But as much as we love saving that extra buck buy handling various issues ourselves, there are serious problems which require the professional input of a trained technician. That is why you will need to call a professional plumber or electrician to your house from time to time. When it comes to plumbing issues, we can rely on general plumbers for all kinds of professional solutions. But sometimes the plumbing issue is too severe and hence requires immediate fixing to alleviate the mess. This is when we require the services of an emergency plumber. Not all plumbing problems qualify as plumbing emergencies. That is why you should always consider the nature and severity of your plumbing problem before requesting for emergency plumbing services in DC. Today we are going to look at five plumbing emergencies that necessitate the services of an emergency plumber.

Sewer Backups

Sewer backups are some of the most severe plumbing problems at home. Sewer line backups are mainly caused by clogs and leaks in the drainage and sewer lines. Sewer line clogs are caused by various agents including bad waste disposal and flushing habits, where people dispose of solid waste, fats, oils, and greases in the drainage sewer system. They are also caused by tree root intrusion or by damaged broken sewer lines. You can prevent sewer line clogs by adopting responsible waste disposal habits. You should also have all your sewer lines inspected regularly by a professional plumber to ensure that they are in good working condition. You should also have your drainage and sewer lines thoroughly cleaned at least once or twice a year by a professional sewer company to enhance their functionality. But if all these preventive measures fail and you find yourself with a severe sewer backup, then you need to call an emergency plumber to fix the mess as soon as possible. Sewer backups can be very messy and hazardous because they drain human waste back into the house.

Water Heater Problems

You can’t possible survive without a water heater during the cold season. Even during the hot season, you still need hot water for washing dishes and bathing. If your water heater is malfunctioning, call an emergency plumber immediately for a quick fix.

Water Supply Issues

If you ever turn on your taps and find them running dry, call your water supply company immediately to determine whether the problem is coming from their end. If the water supply company is not responsible for your water shortage, then you need to call an emergency plumber to determine the cause and fix it as soon as possible.

Heavy Leaks

Contrary to popular belief, all leaks are serious plumbing issues. And although you do not necessarily need a professional plumber to help you fix a slow-leaking tap, you will definitely need to call an emergency plumber if you have heavy leak in your pipes. Gas leaks are regarded as plumbing emergencies and hence you should call an emergency plumber any time you suspect or detect a gas leak in your house.

Types Of Services Offered By A Sewer & Drain Plumber In Washington DC

July 23, 2018DC Plumber, Helpful Hints, Plumbing Advice, Sewer Issues, Uncategorizedmatt

Professional plumbers in DC offer a myriad of plumbing services to residential and commercial/corporate clients in the Washington DC area. Most of these plumbers usually maintain active websites where they list all their plumbing services for online visitors to see. Some of the most common plumbing services include plumbing installations and repairs, water heater servicers, drain cleaning services, sewer services, remodeling and renovation services, and even gas line services. Plumbing repair services are the most popular services because they involve the diagnosis or troubleshooting of any plumbing problem or issue and the implementation of the most viable plumbing solution. Most established DC plumbers now offer emergency plumbing services. These emergency plumbers respond to plumbing service calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without any weekend or holiday breaks. Today we are going to focus on all the drain and sewer services offered by Washington DC plumbers.

Drain Unclogging & Cleaning

Professional plumbers who provide sewer line and drain cleaning services are usually referred to as sewer and drain plumbers. One of the most popular services provided by sewer and drain plumbers is drain clearing. Drain clearing involves the unclogging or unblocking of clogged drains. Professional sewer and drain plumbers use various plumbing equipment and technology, such as root snaking and hydro jetting, to unclog really serious drain and toilet clogs. Another common plumbing service offered by sewer and drain plumbers is drain cleaning. This is where you hire a professional plumber to clean out your drain and sewer pipes after a period of time. Drain clearing is a plumbing repair service unlike drain cleaning, which is a plumbing maintenance service. Most emergency plumbers in Washington DC include DC clog service under their emergency plumbing services.

Drain & Sewer System Installation

Another plumbing service offered by sewer and drain plumbers is drain and sewer system installation. This refers to all installation services for your home drain and sewer system. This includes the installation of all drainage fixtures, pipes and appliances, such as drain traps and pipes. It also includes the installation of all sewer system materials and fixtures, such as underground sewer lines, the main sewer line, and the septic tank. Sewer and drain plumbers handle all kinds of installations, repairs and replacements.

Underground Sewer Line Inspection

Established DC plumbing companies offer underground sewer line inspection services whereby they use specialized equipment to inspect underground sewer lines for clogs, leaks, and other defects. These plumbing specialists use remote controlled underground video cameras to inspect the entire length of your underground sewer line network.

Sewer Line Repairs & Replacements

Professional sewer line plumbers use modern equipment and technology to repair and replace underground sewer lines. These plumbers use trenchless technology to replace old and worn-out underground sewer lines without having to excavate your yard or lawn.

Main Sewer Line Inspection & Maintenance

And last but not least, professional sewer line plumbers also provide inspection and maintenance services for the main sewer line. The main sewer line is very important to your home sewer system because it drains all the waste from your private septic tank to the municipal waste tank. You should have your main sewer line inspected regularly to avoid any clogs or leaks that could undermine the functionality of your home plumbing system.

Why You Should Conduct Regular Sewer Inspections

July 22, 2018Commercial Plumbing, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Sewer Issues, Uncategorizedmatt

You should conduct regular and routine inspections of your home plumbing system to ensure that everything is always in good working condition. You should start by conducting regular inspections on your own every few weeks. You should also hire a professional plumber to thoroughly inspect your home plumbing system every few months. You should focus all these DIY and professional inspection runs on the most critical areas of your plumbing system. Typically, there are four most critical areas of any plumbing system. The first most critical area of any plumbing system is the plumbing control systems, which include the water meter, the main water shutoff valve, the gas meter, the main gas shutoff valve, the electric meter, and even the electrical breaker boxes. The other most critical area of your home plumbing system is the water supply piping network. The third most critical plumbing component is the hot water heater. And the fourth most critical area is the drainage and sewer system. In this article we will look at the benefits of conducting regular and routine inspections of your home drainage and sewer system.

Avoid Sewer Emergencies

Many Washington DC plumbing companies offer DC sewer inspection services to their residential and commercial/industrial clients. One of the main advantages of conducting regular sewer inspections is to avoid sewer emergencies at home or in your place of business. Sewer inspections are conducted to identify any existing or potential faults or defects in your sewer system. The sewer inspection focuses on all the critical parts of your sewer system including the underground sewer lines, the septic tank, and the main sewer line. Sewer line plumbers use specialized plumbing equipment and technology to conduct thorough inspections of your underground sewer system. They use underground video cameras that are controlled remotely to inspect all your sewer lines and the main sewer line for clogs, cracks, leaks, and any other faults. This means that these sewer inspections will identify any pending fault or malfunction before it happens; thereby averting potential sewer and plumbing emergencies in your home or in your workplace.

Ensure Timely Repairs

Regular and routine sewer inspections will help you implement timely repairs in your sewer system. Whether it’s at home or in your workplace, implementing timely repairs in your plumbing system is very important. Sewer plumbers identify potential faults in your plumbing system before they deteriorate and become too serious for your plumbing system. This is advantageous in two ways. Firstly, identifying sewer defects early enables you to fix them as soon as possible thereby preventing a sewer catastrophe in your house. Secondly, fixing these sewer line problems early helps you avoid costly repair bills due to a seriously damaged sewer system.

Reduce Sewer Maintenance Costs

Sewer inspections are part of your basic plumbing maintenance practices. By conducting regular and routine sewer inspections, you will be ensuring that your home plumbing system is well maintained. Even if you conduct these inspection runs on your own, you will still have a positive effect on your home plumbing system because you can detect any fault before it becomes too serious. Similarly, if you hire a professional plumber to inspect your home sewer system, you will be able to fix any existing and potential faults before the whole sewer system breaks down.

The Three Main Types Of Services Offered By Gas Plumbers In Washington DC

July 21, 2018DC Plumber, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Uncategorizedmatt

Gas plumbing is an extended service package offered by established plumbers in the Washington DC area. Gas plumbers undergo a different kind of training than ordinary or general plumbers. Professional gas plumbers are trained in the gas industry but they still undergo the three basic levels of training just like general plumbers. Gas plumbers start at the apprenticeship level where they study in class and in the field for several years before taking exams and proceeding to the journeyman level. As journeymen, the trained gas plumbers work under a master gas fitter for several years before taking gas industry exams to graduate to the top level. Journeymen gas plumbers who pass their final exams become master gas fitters who can apply for practicing licenses in their individual states. A master gas fitter is required to have a clean criminal record and to have proper academic and technical credentials plus proper licensing and bonding before he can be issued with a practicing license at the state level. All gas plumbers in the Washington DC area offer the following services to their residential and commercial clients.

Gas Piping And Repairs

The most basic service package offered by every gas plumber in Washington DC is gas piping and repairs. Every DC gas plumber is trained to install, repair, and replace gas pipes/lines. You can hire a gas line plumber to install new gas pipes in your newly built home. The gas line plumber will lay down all the gas supply pipes and connect you to the main gas supply pipe from the utility gas company. You can also hire a professional gas line plumber to retrofit your old home with new gas pipes. This can be the case if you didn’t have gas supply pipes before and you now wish to supplement your electrical energy with natural gas or propane. Just like in general plumbing, the most popular gas service is repairs. Professional gas plumbers are hired to diagnose and fix all kinds of gas problems and issues including gas line leaks, gas appliance leaks, gas supply problems, and main gas supply line issues. You can hire a gas line plumber to replace your old, leaky and worn-out gas lines with new ones as part of the gas piping service package.

Gas Leak Detection And Repairs

Although gas leaks fall under the gas repair services, most gas plumbers in Washington DC offer this service as a separate package due to the sensitive nature of this problem. Gas leaks are quite dangerous because they can result in gas explosions in your home or in your workplace. You should call your local gas plumber as soon as you suspect or detect a gas leak in your home or place of business. Some signs of gas leaks include the smell of rotten eggs, hissing sounds, and dry dying vegetation cover where your gas lines run underground. Gas plumbers use specialized equipment to detect and pinpoint a gas leak and to repair leaky gas pipes or appliances.

Gas Line Inspection And Maintenance

You should commission a professional gas plumbing company to inspect your home or office gas supply system on a regular basis. These inspection runs should be conducted every few months and they should be very thorough covering the entire gas supply piping network and all gas fixtures, water heaters, and appliances. You should implement or recommended maintenance practices and activities immediately.

When To Call A Professional DC Plumber To Unclog Your Toilet

July 20, 2018DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Helpful Hints, Plumbing Advice, Sewer Issues, Uncategorizedmatt

DIY home solutions are the best. It really feels good to solve a technical problem in your home without hiring a professional. First of all you save money when you solve technical problems at home without the input of a professional. Second of all you feel great for being skilled enough to handle a technical problem without professional help. But although it’s all good to implement DIY solutions to technical home problems, sometimes you have no choice but to call a professional to help you fix a serious technical issue. This is usually the case with some serious plumbing issues at home. One of the most common and irritating plumbing problems at home is clogged toilets. Toilets get clogged due to many different reasons. Sometimes its careless flushing habits, other times its sewer line problems and it could also be caused by a faulty flushing unit. Whichever the cause of the toilet clog, it is always recommendable that you have it unclogged as soon as possible to avoid messy toilet backups. There are several DIY unclogging solutions that you can implement but sometimes you really have to call a professional plumber for help. We will now look at some of the times when you really have to call a professional DC drain plumber to help you unclog your toilet.

After All DIY Unclogging Solutions Have Failed

As mentioned above, there are several DIY unclogging solutions that you can try out when your toilet is clogged. You can start by using the toilet plunger to try and unclog the toilet. If the plunger fails, you can use a baking soda and vinegar solution with hot water to try to unclog the toilet. If the clog persists, then you can try using some of the available commercial unclogging detergents from your local hardware store. If all these DIY unclogging solutions fail, then its time to call your local plumber for assistance.

When The Clog Is Causing A Serious Backup

Another instance when its highly advisable that you call a professional plumber to clear your clogged toilet is when the clog is causing a serious sewer backup in your bathroom. Some toilet clogs are far much serious than they appear. The clog can originate deep down in your underground sewer lines, which could be leaking, blocked, or heavily corroded. If your toilet clogs starts causing a server sewer backup in your house, then it could pose physical damage and health hazards to your household. You should contact your local plumber immediately so that he can conduct underground sewer line inspections to determine the cause of this serious toilet clog and hence fix it.

When It’s The Most Convenient Solution

Sometimes calling a professional plumber to help you fix a plumbing issue in your home is the only convenient and reliable solution. When it comes to clogged toilets, there are some instances when you do not have a choice but to call for professional help. Some of these instances is when you do not know any DIY unclogging solutions or if you do not have the required equipment or products, such as the plunger, baking soda, vinegar, or any commercial unclogging detergent. You might also lack the time to implement any of these DIY unclogging solutions. In such instances, call your local plumber immediately for a timely, convenient, and viable unclogging solution.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Kitchen Remodeler

July 19, 2018DC Plumber, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Uncategorizedmatt

Most professional plumbers in Washington DC are now offering residential and commercial/corporate remodeling and renovation services to homeowners and business owners. These companies usually offer kitchen and bathroom remodeling services and office space renovation services to all residential and commercial clients in DC. Remodeling and renovation services cater to partial home or office remodels and full home or office makeovers. When you decide to only renovate a section of your house or business premises, then you are having a partial remodel. But if you wish to have your entire home or office building renovated, then you need a full home or office makeover. Depending on your budget and your remodeling needs and preferences, you can opt for any of these remodeling or renovation projects. If you only decide to have your kitchen remodeled, then you should look for an excellent DC kitchen plumber or remodeler for the project. In order to ensure that you hire the most qualified, reliable and trustworthy kitchen remodeler in Washington DC, you should always consider the following factors.

Qualifications & Licensing

Plumbing professionals are licensed at the state level after fulfilling various training and legal and regulatory requirements. The typical licensed plumber undergoes two training levels in order to qualify for a practicing license. He starts off as an apprentice plumber where he lasts for several years studying plumbing academically and technically. He then sits for his final exams and if he passes them he graduates into a journeyman plumber. The journeyman plumber undergoes additional academic and technical training for several years under a master plumber. Upon completion of the journeymen training, the trainee plumber sits for his exams and if he passes them he becomes a master plumber. A master plumber can apply for a practicing license from the state contractors” board. He is vetted by the board to ensure that he has a clean criminal record and that he has all the requisite academic and technical credentials. You should always check with the state licensing board to ensure that your kitchen remodeler is properly licensed and that he has proper insurance and bonding as required by the law.

Competence & Experience

You should always consider the competence and experience of your kitchen remodeler to ensure that he is the most qualified. To determine the competence of your kitchen remodeler, visit online customer review platforms like Yelp, Google, and Angie’s List. Past clients post their reviews and rate plumbers on these platforms. You can use these platforms to determine whether the plumber offers quality and satisfactory kitchen remodeling services. You should also check the date of licensing with the state licensing board to determine his experience level. Choose the most competent and experienced quality plumber for your kitchen remodeling project.

Terms Of Contract

The last factor that you should consider when hiring a kitchen remodeler is his terms of contract. You should negotiate favorable terms of contract for your kitchen remodeling project. Make sure that you get fair pricing for your project. You should also ensure that you get a reasonable project completion schedule and that the warranty of your project is reasonable and adequate. You should only sign the kitchen remodeling contract after reading, understanding, and accepting all the terms of contract.

How To Choose A New Hot Water Heater

July 18, 2018DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Energy Efficiency, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Save Money, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

Nowadays there are so many models and brands of hot water heaters that the average customer requires some guidelines for choosing the right water heater for his home. We have water heaters of many different functional designs and fuel types. Basically, there are three main types of hot water heaters in the market today based on their functional design. We have the most popular water heater in the United States called the conventional storage or standard tank water heater. The conventional storage water heater comes with a reservoir or storage tank for holding the heated water for later consumption. We also have the tankless water heater also called the demand-type, on-demand, or instantaneous water heater. As you can tell from the names, the tankless water heater has no reservoir or storage tank for holding heated water but rather heats water ion demand after being switched on. And lastly we have the hybrid heat pump water heater. The hybrid heat pump water heater uses a reverse refrigeration technique to absorb heat energy from the environment to heat water. It’s called a hybrid model because it usually features an additional fuel source to supplement the environmental heat during the cold season. Just like conventional storage water heaters, hybrid heat pump water heaters have storage tanks. You should always consider the following factors when choosing a new hot water heater for your home or workplace, and talk it over with your local plumber for his expert advice for your specific situation.

Consider The Efficiency

Out of the three hot water heater models, the hybrid heat pump water heater is considered to be the most efficient because it does not necessarily require any fuel to heat water. The tankless water heater comes in second because it does not loose heat in stored hot water. The conventional storage water heater is the most inefficient model because it loses a lot of heat energy in the stored hot water. It is very important that you consider the efficiency of a water heater to avoid huge energy bills. The water heater accounts for almost 20% of your home energy bill, which means the more inefficient it is, the higher your energy bills. The efficiency factor also factors in the cost of the water heater. Generally the tankless water heater is more expensive to buy and install, but it ends up being the most economical option because of its low energy bills and because it’s easier and cheaper to maintain and it lasts longer than all the other models.

Consider The Installation Space

The tankless water heater has no reservoir or storage tank and hence takes up about a fifth of the total space used by a conventional storage or a hybrid heat pump water heater. This means that if you have limited space for installing your hot water heater, then the tankless model is the best. Before you buy a new hot water heater, you should consult a reliable DC water heater plumber for advice regarding the versatility of installation based on the available installation space.

Consider The Fuel Type

And last but not least, you should always consider the fuel type of the water heater. Most water heaters use gas or electricity but there are also some hybrid models that combine two or more fuels. We also have modern solar water heaters that use sunlight. You should always consider the availability, affordability, and efficiency of the fuel type of any water heater before purchase.