How Do Tank Water Heaters Work?

The burner (or heating element in electric models) in a tank-style water heater is controlled by a thermostat. When the water stored in the tank falls below a set temperature, the burner fires. When a hot-water valve is opened at a fixture, water is drawn from the top of the tank and is replaced at the bottom of the tank with cold incoming water through the dip tube. Insulation minimizes standby heat loss, and an anode rod prevents corrosion of the tank.

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What brand of Water Heater do I get?

Churchwell Plumbing’s professional technicians recommend Rheem Water Heaters. Rheem continues to build upon a foundation of traditional tank-type water heaters to offer some of the most efficient and high-performing water heaters available today. Their collection of tank-type water heaters is a great display of their commitment to offering the perfect balance of value, performance, and features for every lifestyle and budget.

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What size Water Heater do you need?

Sizing is the technique that matches the capacity of the hot-water source to the needs of the homeowners. For tank water heaters, the key criterion is hot water storage capacity. Properly sized, a tank-style water heater can supply plenty of hot water even for a large family. If the tank is too small, hot water is depleted quickly. If the tank is too lager, energy is wasted maintaining the temperature of unneeded hot water. In fact, standby heat loss is the greatest drawback of tank-style heaters. IF hot water is used only for taking a couple of showers in the morning and for washing dishes at night, a lot of energy is wasted keeping water hot while you’re at work or sleeping. For this reason, tank-style water heaters must be well insulated. Fortunately, mandatory insulation requirements have reduced standby heat loss considerably. You can also increase a tank’s performance by adding an external insulating jacket.

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Here are a few questions to consider when looking for the right water heater size for your house:

• How many people are showering and when? (Is there a “shower rush hour” in the morning or night?

• Do you have a deep soaking tub or whirlpool? What is its fill capacity in gallons?

• When are major appliances in use? Are the dishwasher and washing machine needed at the same time family members are showering? Most Americans are accustomed to staggering hot water use so it is typical to find a home where multiple hot water appliances are needed at the same time.

• How much hot water is needed to deliver the experience clients want in their bathroom remodel? For example, is there enough hot water to fill a deep soaking whirlpool or to operate a vertical spa-type shower for any length or time?