Water Heater Repair & Installation in Avondale, AZ

A water heater is essentially a large tank (they vary in size) that intakes water through your plumbing system and then heats it up. It does this in a number of ways depending on what kind of heater you have. In the case of electric heaters, the heat is generated by two thick heating elements similar to the coils found in the back of an oven. A thermostat on the outside of the unit controls these heating elements, making sure the water inside the tank is the right temperature for you. From there, the heater uses the principle that heat rises in order to get the hot water to come out instead of the cold. In the event of an emergency, the water heater has a series of valves that allow the pressure to be released or to drain the water in order to replace the elements.

Natural gas water heaters are generally more efficient systems than electric water heaters. If you currently have an electric water heater and natural gas is available in your area, a switch might save you a lot of money in electricity costs, although before you rule out an electric model entirely, check with your utility company (sometimes special off-peak rates or options for purchasing renewable power are offered that can make electric water heaters the more cost-effective option.) Propane water heaters are another method of heating water in a residential property, and while they are usually more expensive to install than traditional gas water heaters, your utility bills thereafter may be cheaper with a propane heater. However, the energy efficiency of propane water heaters is about 15% lower than similarly sized electric models, and propane heaters require a flue to be installed in order to vent the dangerous carbon monoxide gas that the heater produces as a byproduct.