FAQ
Water Heater FAQ
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General
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When Should I Replace My Water Heater?
Most water heater manufacturers put the average lifespan of their products at 10 years. That means that you should be replacing your water heater every decade or so. However, it’s important to note that outside factors can make that estimated lifespan shorter or longer. For example, a well-maintained hot water heater will last longer, while a water heater that’s been broken and repaired multiple times will give out sooner. And that’s not even counting tankless water heaters, which have an average lifespan twice as long as their conventional counterparts.
Ultimately, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact date when you’ll need to replace your water heater. That’s why you shouldn’t worry about it. If you can’t remember when your hot water heater was installed, or if you’re worried that it may be past its prime, let a professional take a look at things. Our water heater professionals can evaluate the current state of your water heater and let you know when it’s time for a replacement.
Whether you need to ask a question, schedule service, or get emergency assistance, Lone Star Water Heaters is available 24/7 to our customers in Plano, Dallas Fort Worth, and all of the surrounding areas. Call us at (888) 904-4239 or get in touch with us online today!
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Why Do I Keep Running Out of Hot Water?
If your water turns cold or lukewarm in the middle of your task, or if you experience flashes of cold water in your hot shower, you may be wondering what the cause of the issue is. The most likely explanation is that you’re using hot water faster than your water heater can generate it. This can happen if you’re using multiple appliances and fixtures at once, and it’s especially likely if your water heater is malfunctioning or worn down.
So what kinds of issues can cause you to run out of hot water faster than usual? First, there’s your heat source. In a conventional water heater, this is probably your pilot light, while in a tankless water heater, this would be your heat exchanger. If your heat source is faulty, it’s harder for your unit to heat water. Another likely culprit is sediment buildup in a conventional water heater, which takes up valuable space in your tank and can even clog up your pipes and affect your water pressure.
At the end of the day, there are a lot of issues that can cause you to run out of hot water faster and more frequently, and not all of them are things you can diagnose and resolve on your own. If running out of hot water has become a common problem, call our hot water heater specialists to get your unit fixed.
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Do I Need a Specialized Technician to Service My Commercial Water Heater?
Commercial water heaters can come in either tank or tankless varieties but are almost always designed to operate at a much larger scale. Depending on the type of commercial property they service, commercial water heaters may need to provide water to specialized equipment or enough fixtures to stock multiple homes or offices.
If commercial hot water heaters are just larger versions of their residential counterparts, can they be serviced by the same technicians? We wouldn’t recommend it. These water heaters are often hooked up to intricate and specialized plumbing systems that require experience to navigate. Plus, with their large size, commercial water heaters require extra skills to handle and clean thoroughly. We recommend that you always get your commercial water heater services from a team with experience working with these specialized pieces of equipment.
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What’s the Difference Between Conventional and Tankless Water Heaters?
Conventional water heaters are defined by their signature tanks. These tanks are used to pre-heat and maintain a ready-to-go supply of hot water. This means that they can provide hot water immediately whenever it’s needed, but it also means that that reservoir can run out, leaving you without heated water.
Tankless hot water heaters, as the name implies, lack a tank, and thus cannot maintain a reservoir of pre-heated water. Instead, they use heat transfer technology to heat water as it moves through your pipes. While it takes a bit longer for tankless water heaters to heat water and deliver it to your appliances and fixtures, once your water is hot, it will stay hot as long as you need it to — there’s no limited supply that you have to worry about exhausting.
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