Harris Plumbing of Dunedin L.L.C.

Water Heater Survival Guide

The following practices may help you extend the life of your
water heater and lower your energy consumption.

First things first: If your heater has been in place for more
than five years and has not been maintained, I recommend
you leave it alone and simply wait for it to expire. Yes, that's
right -- expire. A unmaintained water heater has little or no
chance of a useful life past its warranty period. This is a
reality that most people don't want to hear, however it's eventuality is absolute! Please remember, if you have the ability to go Solar, do it!  With solar systems, heating is reduced or free, and as the saying goes, "free is for me", also if "Tank-less"  is a option please do it, but only Natural Gas or Propane. Electric units are not worth your trouble. 

First, it starts with a yearly flushing of your heater (not draining).  Draining of your heater is a useless activity and accomplishes nothing toward the unit's longevity. Flushing your heater is done first by turning off the electric/gas source to your heater, then connecting a hose to the bottom of your heater and turning on the hose faucet. Discharge the water until it runs clear and cold. Water can be discharged onto your driveway or into a laundry or bath tub. Once this is complete, turn off the hose faucet and turn on the electric/gas source. This task clears out sediment and debris from the tank and takes very little time and effort to do.

Second, heater elements in electrical units lose their efficiency between five and seven years. Elements should be changed prior to burning out. A burnt-out element can ruin other components of your heater and/or the entire heater if left in place after they have failed.

Third, thermostats in electric heaters begin to be inaccurate
between seven to ten years, which will wreak havoc with
temperatures and run up your utility bill.

Useful things to remember 

2. Devices that turn on and off your heater rarely work to your advantage, such as mechanical timers or utility discount programs that give you a token discount on your monthly bill. None of these programs or devices save you enough money to replace your heater when their misapplication costs you the expense of a new water heater. A digital timer combined with a surge protector and custom
programing can provide you with some yearly savings, the best rule of thumb is to replace any heater that has been left unmaintained for a period of over 10-12 years prior to it failing.

3. The upper and lower thermostats must be set at the same
temperature in order for your heater to properly function,
setting one higher or lower than the other does not save
anything, but in fact will cost you money and prematurely
wear out all of the heater's components.

4. You get what you pay for! Buying a heater from a hardware store will not save you money. Feel free to buy lumber, screws, nails, flowers and all the paint you can carry, but let the plumber purchase, deliver and install your water heater.  A water heater is a waterborne heating device that if improperly designed, installed or maintained can explode and cause extensive property damage, not to mention the possibility of physical harm to you. So let's leave the lumber and nails to the hardware store and the plumbing to the plumber. Just as a point of information Harris Plumbing does not install Hot Water Heaters that are not purchased by Harris Plumbing.

Hopefully this information has been of help to you and at least somewhat entertaining.

Ed Harris 

Owner

It is no secret the water we drink, use and bathe with contains a long list of chemicals. We need those chemicals to treat the water during the trek from the water treatment plant to our respective front doors. Once the water reaches our homes, the chemicals are no longer needed. Many studies show long and short term effects from usage and exposure to certain chemicals. To put it in perspective, ask yourself this:  Would I use pool water to cook with, bathe with or for any use other  than swimming? The answer should be a resounding "NO!"

Stop living with it!  In most cases, a simple whole house filter can be installed for as little as $450.00 and depending on the system and number of household users, the filter can last up to 5-10 years with nothing for you to maintain. Many of my Commercial customers use this same type filter for their places of business, such as, Dental offices or labs, Food service, Doctor's offices and labs, Grocery stores, Retail stores and the list goes on. These business owners know that the chemicals cause damage and premature wear and tear to all their plumbing fixtures and various equipment, which in turn costs them thousands in yearly losses without a filter.

So give me a call when you get tired of using or working with pool water.