Water Heaters Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is an indirect-fired water heater?
Q: Why do oil-fired water heaters save money and prevent hot water run-outs?
Q: What can I do to prolong the life of my water heater?
Q: What is an indirect-fired water heater?
A: Indirect-fired water heaters use the burner from your boiler to heat domestic water as well as water to heat your home. A coiled pipe is installed inside your boiler, where the hot water in the boiler heats the tap water flowing through the coil. In the wintertime, this results in huge water heating savings or virtually FREE hot water. For homes with heavy hot water use, a separate insulated storage tank called an aquabooster can also be installed for greater economy.
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Q: Why do oil-fired water heaters save money and prevent hot water run-outs?
A: Heating oil produces the hottest flame of any home heating fuel. This means an oil-fired water heater heats water faster. How fast? On average, oil-fired units heat water three times faster than gas heaters and five times faster than electric units. And don’t forget, over the last 10 years, heating oil in the Keystone state has been significantly cheaper than gas or electricity.
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Q: What can I do to prolong the life of my water heater?
A: You’ll get longer life from your water heater and prevent breakdowns if you follow these simple guidelines:
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Once every three months, drain one gallon of water from the tank. If you have hard water, do this every month. This reduces the amount of sediment collecting in the bottom of the tank, which can make the burner or heating coils work harder. |
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Once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician. This will help keep it in peak operating condition. |
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Once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician. This will help keep it in peak operating condition. |
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Once every five years, have a service technician replace the anode rod in your water heater. This small metal device sacrifices itself for the good of the entire unit, the corrosive chemicals in the water are drawn to the anode rod instead of attacking the tank itself. |
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If you have questions other than those listed above, contact us. |
