water heaters Archives | A Whole New Level of Service: Plumbing, Drain Cleaning, Slab Leak Repair & More in Carrollton, TX

When is the Right Time to Replace Your Water Heater in DFW

A standard water heater should last around 10 years and tankless water heaters can last twice as long. But, usage and maintenance can have a big impact on how long your water heater actually lasts. If you’ve had the same water heater for many years, you should start thinking about replacing or upgrading. Cathedral Plumbing has a few suggestions to help you figure out the right time to replace your water heater.

The age of your water heater is a big indicator of when you may start to experience more problems and require maintenance or replacement. After a decade of running daily, it’s to be expected that a standard water heater might start to have issues. This may start as a small leak, but it can quickly evolve into costly problems. You don’t want to be left without hot water when you need it! So if your water heater is approaching a decade in age, it’s time to consider a replacement or upgrade.

Additional signs of water heater problems include uncommon sounds and rusty water. If your hot water is coming out of the faucet rusty or foul-smelling, then your water heater may have a problem with old and dirty pipes, corrosion or bacteria build up in the tank. Uncommon noises, loud rumbling, or knocking sounds can be a sign that sediment has built up in your tank and needs to be flushed out. If your hot water heater is experiencing these issues with corrosion and sediment build-up, then it needs to be checked by one of our licensed plumbers in Dallas.

Cathedral Plumbing is your professional service for water heater installation in DFW! We have experience maintaining, replacing, and upgrading residential water heaters. We typically recommend customers make the upgrade to tankless water heaters. Tankless water heaters in DFW will have a higher initial purchasing and installation cost than that of a standard water heater, but they will typically last longer and have lower operating/energy costs over a longer running life. Tankless water heaters can conserve more energy than standard tank models while simultaneously servicing every high-demand point in your home, such as the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Contact Cathedral Plumbing for any water heater repairs or water heater installation in DFW.

Our Licensed Plumber in Dallas Shares The Most Common Causes of a Leaky Water Heater

Do you hear dripping coming from your water heater closet, or maybe you notice a small puddle forming under the door? A leaky water heater can start as a small trickle but may turn into a big problem if you don’t notice in time. Our licensed plumbers in Dallas share the most common causes of leaky water heaters and offer some advice.

With any water heater maintenance in Dallas, Cathedral Plumbing will check the safety and drain valves first. Then, we’ll check the water supply and test for any sediment build-up. If either of those issues is the cause, then our licensed plumbers can quickly fix the problem and get your water heater in working order again.

If those aren’t the root of the problem, then your water heater may require more extensive plumbing services and repairs. Your heater’s hot and cold water inlet/outlet connections are a possible source for leaks. If the connections are loose or there is a faulty pipeline, then you will need to repair or replace these water heater parts.

Another possible area to troubleshoot is the temperature and pressure relief valve (T/P valve). This plays an integral part in your water heater and keeps the water running smoothly through the systems by monitoring the temperature and pressure. Leaks can occur if there’s too much pressure built up or if the water is too hot in the tank. Our licensed plumbers can assess and determine the cause and identify solutions for T/P valve issues.

Loose valves and tank deterioration are common causes of leaky water heaters. These fixes are not always easy to do if you’re not familiar with water heater repair. To assure that your water heater is properly maintained and major leaks are avoided, Cathedral Plumbing’s licensed professionals can provide the best diagnosis and replacement parts for your Dallas plumbing repair needs.

How Often Should I Get Water Heater Maintenance in Plano

Water heater maintenance can often fall pretty low on our to-do lists, but it affects our 2^nd largest utility expense – water usage. Many homeowners wonder if water heater maintenance is necessary, if it can be done themselves, or if calling a professional is the way to go. While maintenance may be optional, it can vastly improve the longevity of your appliances and prevent expensive repairs.

In general, standard water heaters can last around 10 years and should be flushed and replaced with clean water at least once a year. When you hire Cathedral Plumbing as your Plano plumber, we can provide a thorough checklist of water heater maintenance:

Checking all safety valves
Testing the supply pipes
Draining your water heater
Ensuring shut-off valves are functional
Checking your anode rod
Evaluating your water heater’s thermostat
Testing your heating element function

Let our professional team of DFW plumbers handle your hot water heater maintenance, so you can focus on more important things in your life. If we find serious problems or you need extensive water heater maintenance in the Plano area, we’ll work with you to get any urgent repairs fixed ASAP. We also perform tankless water heater installation and maintenance, which can be a bit more involved than working on standard hot water heaters. Our licensed plumbers are here to make it turnkey for you!

Allow Cathedral Plumbing to save you some money in the long run by maintaining the longevity of your water heater, finding repairs before it becomes a disastrous issue, and avoiding extra wear and tear by giving a little regular TLC. From conventional to tankless, from gas to electric, we install and repair all makes and models of residential water heaters. Schedule your annual water heater check with Cathedral Plumbing to make sure everything is in tip-top shape. With our help, your hot water will flow!

Tankless Water Heaters vs. Standard

If you’re upgrading or replacing your water heater and find yourself curious about the difference between a tankless water heater versus a standard heater, keep reading! It’s helpful to know how they work, what their benefits are, and which style you prefer. Knowing what you want for your home and how each water heater works can help you prepare for any upgrade and installation plans.

Standard Water Heaters

As suggested, the standard storage water heater is fairly common in most households. It houses a ready reservoir of hot water that is constantly heated in the tank. Standard water heaters experience standby heat loss, where some energy and heat is wasted when not in use, though some heaters may have well-insulated tanks that can reduce such loss. Standard storage water heaters are typically lower in purchase costs but may require regular maintenance or cause major plumbing problems if they leak or break.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless gas and electric water heaters are more energy-efficient and provide hot water only as needed. When the hot water tap is turned on, cold water flows through the unit to heat it, and a steady supply of hot water comes through the tap. A downside to the tankless water system is that it can limit output flow rates if a large quantity of hot water is needed. If multiple appliances are using hot water simultaneously, then hot water flow may be limited.

Tankless water heaters may have a higher initial purchasing and installation cost than that of a standard water heater, but they will typically last longer and have lower operating/energy costs over a longer running life. Standard water heaters may last 10 – 15 years, but tankless water heaters can last over 20 years and have easily replaceable parts.Water heating is the 2^nd largest utility expense in most homes and understanding the true cost of a water heater involves understanding their purchase, installation, operating, and maintenance costs. We recommend investing in tankless water heaters and our expert plumbers can guide you through the process and assure proper installation.

The Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

Upgrading to a tankless water heater has a lot of benefits for your household, including long-term energy & cost efficiency. Continue reading to learn why we recommend tankless water heaters.

Built to Last

Though they may have a higher cost initially than a standard heater, tankless water heaters more than make up for it with their longevity and operating cost. Their simple design, energy efficiency, and component parts make them one of the longest lasting style of water heater. You can expect a tankless heater to last many years, especially with easy, repairable parts. Properly maintaining your water heater could prolong its lifespan even longer.

Energy Efficient

These heaters are more energy efficient than standard tanks by providing hot water only as needed. When the hot water tap is turned on, cold water flows through the unit to heat it, and a steady supply of hot water comes through. This process prevents unnecessary heat loss that many standard water heaters experience.

With the process of heating water on-demand, you won’t experience a loss of hot water like you may with standard heaters – you can tap into continuous hot water for as long as you need! However, if you have a full household or several appliances demanding a lot of hot water usage simultaneously, then it may be beneficial to install a secondary tankless water heater that can help with steady output flow.

Tankless water heaters can conserve more energy than standard tank models and simultaneously service every high-demand point in your home, such as the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room.

Lower Utility Bills

Gas tankless water heaters use less energy and experience less heat loss than standard tank water heaters. The average household could save hundreds of dollars every year by converting to a gas tankless unit.

If you’re ready to upgrade your water heater, contact our office at: 972-446-2500

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners
929 East 41st St Austin, TX 78751
Phone: (512) 936-5200

Robert Maner RMP-41287