Denver Water Heaters are an essential piece of equipment for every home. However, when buying one it is important to understand your options in order to choose the right one for your needs.

Newer water heaters have undergone significant improvements in energy efficiency and can reduce your energy costs significantly. They also have smaller designs that reclaim space in your home.

As a second-largest consumer of energy in your home, the water heater is an important place to focus on saving energy. A high energy efficiency rating (EF or UEF) reduces your operating costs and environmental impact, whether your choice is for a conventional tank, tankless, gas/electric hybrid or heat pump model.

Your local energy utility probably offers an online tool for comparing the average yearly operating costs of different water heaters. Another good resource is the yellow-and-black Energy Guide label that’s found on most home appliances, including water heaters. The Energy Guide compares the burner and heat exchanger efficiencies, standby losses and cycling losses of different models.

You can also look for the tankless model’s gpm flow rate, temperature rise and recovery rates to help you compare energy consumption of various models. But be aware that manufacturers often provide different specifications for these features, making direct comparisons difficult. In particular, there are no industry-standard ratings for the flow rate at the listed temperature rise, so it can be tricky to find a model that is compatible with your home’s plumbing and hot water demand.

If your old water heater needs replacing, be sure to consider a new, high-efficiency model that meets modern energy efficiency standards. In fact, the DOE recently finalized a new rule for residential gas-fired and electric storage water heaters that will generate more energy savings than any other appliance rule in history.

The new rules will also require most common gas-fired and electric storage water heaters to achieve significant energy efficiency gains by incorporating heat pump technology. This will allow consumers to reap the benefits of higher EF and UEF ratings while eliminating the environmental impact of tank venting and reducing space requirements.

To size a tank water heater correctly, it is important to estimate your household’s peak hour demands. This can be done by determining the number of people in your household who take showers or bathe during the peak time of day. You can then calculate the appropriate capacity of the water heater by using a table such as Table 6.3 in the Energy Guide. This table estimates your annual water heating energy use, which includes energy used to produce hot water during peak hours and to recover from standby losses throughout the day.

Safety

The water heater is a huge component of your home and while it’s typically not the center of attention, there are many safety measures that must be in place to ensure it’s functioning properly. Water heaters can pose dangers in the form of severe burns from scalding water, electric shock hazards and explosions if gas is involved.

If your water heater is gas, make sure it’s surrounded by a safe distance of at least 12’ from anything that could catch fire. It is also important that you don’t store any combustible items, like jump ropes, coats, garbage or propane canisters near the pilot light. It only takes one stray spark to ignite the gases and cause an explosion. Gasoline-powered water heaters also emit carbon monoxide, which is odorless and colorless, but extremely toxic when inhaled. Having a CO detector in your home will help detect any CO build-up and will alert you to the presence of dangerous levels so that you can take action.

In addition to the safety features built into gas water heaters, it’s a good idea to schedule regular inspections of your water heater by a professional to ensure the one-way valve and pressure relief valve are working correctly. These components prevent backflow, which could potentially contaminate potable water with non-potable wastewater.

If you have a tank water heater that vents out the side, it’s important that the vents are free from dips and have the proper diameter to allow for optimal ventilation. It’s also a good idea to have a professional inspect the venting system at least once per year.

The final piece of safety advice to remember is that you should always be sure to shut off the gas shut-off valve if there’s ever a leak around your water heater. This should be done right away because gas is odorless and colorless, so it can quickly spread throughout your home before you know there’s a problem. Also, never use your clothes dryer or cook on the same gas line as your hot water heater. This can produce carbon monoxide, which can be deadly if inhaled in large enough quantities.

Design

The water heater may look simple on the outside, but the inner workings are sophisticated. Water heaters are designed to be robust and durable and many have incorporated safety features to help prevent fires, explosions and other problems that can occur with improper operation or maintenance. Improvements in the design of water heaters include check valve devices at the inlet and outlet, cycle timers, electronic ignition in the case of fuel-using units, sealed air intake systems, and pipe insulation.

Most homes and some commercial buildings in North America and Southern Asia have tank-type water heaters, which operate on electricity, natural gas, propane or heating oil. They have large insulated tanks that keep hot water available on demand. They are the most common and economical choice in residential settings.

When choosing a water heater, make sure the design meets the building code requirements and complies with local gas codes. This is particularly important for gas tank water heaters, which have high combustion efficiencies but must be vented properly to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and other problems.

The size of the water heater should be sized based on the desired water temperature rise and the number of people in the household or building who will need hot water at one time. To determine the appropriate capacity of the water heater, calculate the flow rate through the showerheads and fixtures to find the gallons per minute (GPM) needed to reach the desired output temperature.

For electric water heaters, the heating element or coils convert electrical energy into heat to warm the water in the storage tank. They are rated in watts and usually marked by the manufacturer so replacement parts can be ordered based on the tank size and recovery rate.

Lined and dielectric pipe nipples allow the plumber to connect copper tubing without risk of electrolysis, which occurs when dissimilar metals come into contact with each other. Nipples are typically made of iron and brass is used between the iron fittings and the copper tubing to resist corrosion.

Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, do not have a storage tank. They heat water on demand by generating the necessary heat internally with a copper or stainless steel heat exchanger coil, and they are very popular in Europe and other countries where there is no central heating system. These water heaters have a higher upfront cost, but they save money over the long term because they use far less energy than traditional models.

Maintenance

Water heaters require routine inspection and maintenance to ensure they are functioning properly. This includes checking for any scalding burns from the pressure-relief valve as well as sediment build-up which can lead to health risks and lower efficiency. It’s also important to keep an eye out for any unusual noises or smells that may indicate a problem with the unit.

When inspecting your water heater, always shut off the power or gas and allow it to cool before attempting any work. Water heaters can be dangerous to work on as they contain scalding water under pressure, and gas water heaters have flammable natural gas in them. Additionally, you should wear protective gloves and safety goggles when performing any close inspections of the unit.

The first step in maintenance is to test the pressure-relief valve located on top or side of your water heater tank. Locate a bucket beneath the discharge pipe and open the drain valve to let the water run for a few seconds. This will reveal whether or not the valve opens and releases excessive pressure. You can also test the temperature of your water by sticking a cooking thermometer into the water. Ideally, hot water should be between 120 and 140 degrees F.

Another important maintenance task is to flush the water heater on a regular basis. This will help to remove any sediment build-up in the tank and improve overall water quality. You can do this by shutting off the power or gas to the unit, placing a bucket under the discharge pipe and opening the drain valve. Close the drain valve after the water runs out and then open it again to let the water drain for a few seconds. You may hear a gurgling or groaning sound which is normal as the sediment is being removed from the tank.

Water heaters are essential appliances for most commercial facilities, and ensuring they are in good working order can save money in the long run. With proper maintenance, they can last for up to 12 years. However, it’s best to hire a licensed plumber or HVAC technician to handle any maintenance and repairs for these complex units.