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May 2021

Properly Sizing Your New Water Heater

Properly Sizing Your New Water Heater in Carrollton

By Water Heaters

Is the water heater in your Carrollton home on its last leg? Have you started planning for a new water heater installation? Are you ready to upgrade your water heater to save money and improve access to hot water?

If the answer is yes, then you will need to ensure your new water heater is the appropriate size for your Carrollton residence. Failing to install a water heater that’s the right size for your home will cost you hundreds in wasted energy and have you dealing with frequent cold showers.

The experts at Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning are here to help. We have created this simple guide that outlines everything you need to know about water heater sizing. Read on to learn how to properly size your new water heater.

How Is a Water Heater Sized?

Before you can find the size of water heater you need for your Carrollton home, it’s important to understand how water heaters are classified in the first place. Sizing methods do vary depending on the type of water heater you’re installing.

If you are shopping for a traditional tank storage heater, then the first hour rating (i.e. the number of gallons of hot water the heater can supply per hour) and overall size are most important. The amount of water that the tank can store is denoted in gallons. As you might have guessed, larger households need a tank with a higher capacity. Generally, you can assume you’ll need 10-12 gallons per person on a regular basis.

In terms of the first hour rating, two tanks with the same storage capacity can have different first hour ratings. If multiple people in your household all need to shower at about the same time, opt for the tank with a higher FHR to ensure that everyone has plenty of hot water.

Tankless heaters are a bit simpler to size. For these devices, size is based on GPM, or gallons per minute. The larger your household, the more GPM you will need.

The Importance of Proper Water Heater Sizing

As you can see, buying a water heater that’s the right size for your needs and home is relatively simple once you understand how they are sized. However, many homeowners still make the mistake of buying the wrong size water heater for their Carrollton homes. This occurs when people underestimate their hot water usage or opt for a lower FHR.

The biggest downfall of having an undersized tank water heater is that there will not be enough hot water to go around. This is far from the only problem, though. An undersized water heater will be pulling extra duty trying to keep up with the household demands for hot water. This can shorten the life of your unit and require frequent water heater repairs.

Having an undersized tankless water heater can cause even more headaches. While it will be able to consistently produce hot water, its flow rate will be diminished. Your normally roaring stream of hot water may be reduced to a trickle if your tankless system is too small. This can make simple tasks like washing your hair or cleaning dishes incredibly tedious.

Can I Just Buy an Oversized Water Heater?

In light of all the problems that come with an undersized heater, you’re probably considering a gigantic water heater that far exceeds your needs, right? While you will never experience a hot water shortage if you have an oversized heater, you will experience plenty of other issues.

If you buy an oversized tank storage water heater, it will warm way more water than you need. Even if you have an appropriately sized tank storage water heater, these systems are among the most energy draining in your home. If you intentionally install an oversized unit, expect your energy bill to skyrocket.

Not only will you lose money in the long run, but your upfront cost will be higher. Larger models are notably more expensive. The best approach is to simply find the perfect size hot water heater for your Carrollton home.

Benefits of a New Water Heater

If you take the time to properly size your new water heater, it will pay dividends for years to come. There are many benefits to a new, high-quality water heater that fits your home perfectly. They include:

Improved Energy Efficiency

As water heaters age, they become less efficient. A new, modern water heater will significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency, which will save you money. Who doesn’t want to reduce their monthly utility bill?

If you really want to up the ante, consider a tankless water heater. While these units are more expensive to install, they last longer than tank storage heaters. They do not store water but instead produce it when you turn on the faucet. Since they are not constantly reheating a huge tank of water, they use less energy.

No More Cold Showers

Put a stop to cold showers and hot water shortages with a new water heater installation. Your updated unit will provide plenty of hot water for every member of your household— as long as you get the right size, of course. Your hot water heater is a great investment that will pay for itself many times over and produce the right amount of hot water at the right rate.

Is Water Heater Installation a DIY Project?

Sizing your water heater can definitely be a DIY task, but what about the installation itself? While many home projects can be handled by the weekend warrior with a garage full of power tools, water heater installation should absolutely be left to the pros.

Your home’s hot water heater uses either high-voltage electrical lines or a natural gas supply to operate. No matter which type of water heater is installed in your home, handling these devices without professional training can be dangerous. A single misstep could result in electric shock or a potentially fatal gas leak.

Skip the DIY approach and contact a licensed plumbing contractor, like Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning, for your Carrollton hot water heater installation.

Plumbers Near Me

Are you ready to upgrade your hot water heater? If so, then Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning is the team for the job. For years, we have served the Dallas-Fort Worth area with great pride. We have recently expanded and are glad to announce that our services are now available to Carrollton residents.

Our team offers free estimates on all installations and can get to work fast. We will ensure that you find the perfect size water heater for your home. Contact us today to get started!

May 21, 2021
Plumbing Projects to Improve Your Home Resale Value

5 Plumbing Projects to Improve Your Home Resale Value in Plano

By Plumbing and Air Conditioning Dallas TX

Are you looking to put your home back on the market? There are many elements that go into choosing the best time to sell, but before you get in contact with a realtor it’s worth taking stock of your home and seeing what improvements can be done to raise its value on the Plano real estate market.

If you’re feeling handy – or at the very least handy enough to make plans with a good contractor – here are five plumbing projects to improve your resale value in Plano.

1. In the Kitchen

There are plenty of ways to improve the layout of your kitchen without having to do a full gutting. It’s all about improving your current appliances in a way that will be appealing to potential buyers. If you don’t have something like a dishwasher, for instance, installing one will be a massive convenience for the next owners.

You can also replace your current sink head with a pull-out faucet, which is another addition that’s incredibly useful. If you’re feeling wild, you can even upgrade to a double-basin sink, a perk that will give your house an advantage over others in the area. All it takes is a few key areas of work, you can turn your kitchen space into something out of the right owner’s dream.

2. For the Bathroom

Adding a new bathroom can allow you to upgrade to luxury features, increasing the value of your home by up to 23%. Even building a new, conveniently placed half-bathroom is a big plus in real estate, especially for a larger family or persons with disabilities.

However, we understand a full construction job isn’t feasible for many would-be sellers. There’s a lot you can do that’ll create a similar effect. You can tile or retile your shower for a fresh look. Even just changing your fixtures will make a big difference, though there’s an increasing want for creative design choices in that realm. Black or mixed metal are two daring options to consider.

But underneath all the glitz and glam of a stylish bathroom, there’s a room that’s made up mostly of drains. So take the time to make sure the core plumbing around your bathroom is functioning properly.

3. Modernize the Water Heater

How’s your water heater? If you haven’t thought about it, you’ll want to before you take the steps to sell your home. If you have a tank-style water heater, they tend to last around ten years. After that they start to corrode and build up sediment that can get into the water supply and clog vital machinery. So if your water heater is leaking, or if it’s taking longer than usual to heat up water, it’s time to replace it.

You might want to consider switching to a tankless water heater. They take up much less space than a tanked heater, and they provide near-instant hot water access without a pilot light or water storage. They also have a lifespan double of that of a tank-equivalent, and a longer warranty to match.

A tankless water heater is a definite selling point for your home. It’s safer, more effective, and is even wi-fi capable and can be controlled through a tablet or phone.

4. Pipe Upgrades

Even once your appliances make it into the 21st century, that won’t amount to much if your piping system is stuck in the 1970s. Most homes, particularly older ones, contain galvanized pipes. These corrode over time and, like an outdated water heater, can cause toxic material to break off into your water supply.

If your system is old enough it could contain polybutylene, or even lead. Even just a section of these materials in your piping can cause serious health risks. Beyond improving the resale value of your home, it’s vital to modernize your piping for the safety of the people who move in after you.

The best alternatives for piping are copper for water and PVC for waste outlets. With these materials you can ensure a smooth functioning system with few joints and low risk of corrosion. It’ll improve the value of your property, but by emphasizing that the plumbing system is taken care of you’ll be providing extra security to buyers.

5. Eco-Renovations

In nearly every room of the house it’s becoming more and more important to implement eco-friendly appliances into your renovations. Eco and low-waste appliances are beneficial on a globally conscious scale, while also putting in work to lower energy bills in the process. Needless to say that it’s something most buyers will definitely be considering in the house of their choosing.

A tankless water heater, as stated before, is a very useful eco-friendly shift in your home’s design. Beyond that, it could help to take a tour of the plumbing in your house and see what could be improved.

Is your toilet constantly running water or wobbling in its foundation? Time to get a dual-flush upgrade to cut energy costs and add another perk to your home’s appearance. You can also replace your faucets and showerheads to fixtures that can save water by the gallon while reducing strain on your plumbing system.

When shopping around for fixtures and appliances as you get them, look out for proof of Energy Star certification. Even if you don’t know what that is by name, there’s a big chance you’ve seen the baby-blue sticker on the front of a fridge or other home fixture.

Energy Star is a program from the Environmental Protection Agency that is awarded to appliances that are energy efficient. Using Energy Star-approved fixtures in your home tells buyers that, when they live there, they’ll be reducing their carbon footprint and saving money doing it.

Your house has provided a roof over your head and shelter from the proverbial storm. You might like it, you might hate it, or you might not feel anything one way or the other. But when selling your house you want to present it in the best light possible.

Installing a new sink will contribute to that, and so will getting rid of any leaks or clogs. These are all efforts big and small that you can put in to make sure that, when the right buyer walks through your doors they won’t just see another house on the market – they’ll see a home.

And, rest assured, they’ll pay accordingly.

May 3, 2021
Benefits of a Tankless Water Heater

Three Surprising Benefits of a Tankless Water Heater in Frisco

By Tankless Water Heaters

Living in Frisco with its snowy winters, you may have experienced the trouble of losing hot water right when you need it. If you have a tank-based water heater you’re given a certain volume of heated water that, once gone, needs time to replenish itself. This will take anywhere between forty minutes to over an hour, depending on the model.

You may have heard through research or word of mouth that tankless, or “on-demand” water heaters can provide an unlimited supply of hot water, assuming you stay below the maximum flow rate. This is good news for the leisurely shower-takers in your household, but a tankless water heater comes with other perks as well.

Keep reading to learn of three surprising benefits that come with making the switch to a tankless water heater.

Penny Spent, Penny Saved

Shopping around for tankless water heaters, you may notice that they’re considerably more expensive than tank-based models. There are reasons for this that we’ll get into next, but rest assured this price tag will pay for itself in time.

Energy Efficiency

The U.S. Department of Energy has shown that tankless water heaters are anywhere between 8-50% more efficient than other alternatives, depending on use. And while tank-based heaters are heating water 24/7, even if you’re not using it, a tankless water heater heats as needed. This means it negates the cost of energy other heaters would’ve been wasting.

This is seen most remarkably in smaller homes or ones that use less than 41 gallons of water per day, but even in more water-dependent households the savings are noticeable. According to Energy Star, you have the potential to make back the money spent on a tankless heater well within its lifespan.

Other Savings

Another way you can make back installation cost is to take advantage of the federal tax advantages that come with installing such an energy-efficient appliance. Currently, the federal government is offering a 10% tax credit towards the cost and installation of a tankless water heater. That’s money back in your pocket, and an eco-friendly supply of hot water for your household.

Big Life in a Small Space

The main reason why tankless water heaters are more expensive than the tank-based models is because of their lifespan. While even the most high-quality traditional water heater will last about a decade, a tankless model boasts a lifespan double that.

Warranty Wellness

For an appliance that lasts as long as your average tankless water heater, you want a security plan that can accommodate it. Most traditional, gas or electric tank-heaters have a warranty of about five or six years. This leaves a stretch of time before you need to think about replacing it where, if something goes wrong, you’ll have to pay to fix it out-of-pocket.

Compare this to a tankless water heater, which comes with a warranty that can last up to twenty years – roughly the entire lifespan of the appliance itself. As long as you take the necessary steps to keep this warranty vaid, meaning performing annual maintenance that you should be doing anyway, your tankless heater is covered until it’s time to replace it.

Saving Space

If you were to arrange a boxing match between a tankless and a tank-style heater, it’s undeniable that the tanked heater would win. We’ll admit it. Coming in at 150 pounds and over four feet tall, this 40-gallon behemoth would take down a tankless water heater in a cagematch almost immediately.

But when it comes to inviting these two options into your home, you might not have the room to accommodate a tank-based water heater. If that’s the case, a tankless model may be more appealing. Unlike their older sibling, they’re a little over two feet tall and weigh about as much as a Boston Terrier.

And while they aren’t as cute as a terrier, they’ll definitely stay in one place, mounted to the wall where they’ll take up little room, and are guaranteed not to pee on your rug.

Staying Safe

After enough time with a tank-based water heater, accumulating build-up within the tank is inevitable. When this happens, it isn’t long before the tank will corrode and eventually leak, which can cause water damage and even risk of flooding if the leak is strong enough.

Of course, since a tankless water heater doesn’t have a tank, you negate a lot of these risks, and while a leak is possible with regular maintenance it’s not likely. And, beyond leaks, ditching the tank also provides a level of safety for the worst-case scenarios.

Bursting Tanks and Tainted Water

Tank-style heaters, in accordance with current code, come with a temp and pressure relief valve that works to eliminate the risk of the tank exploding. This is an awful thing to consider, and it’s fairly rare, but the chances of this happening increase as minerals and other build-up clog the valve.

If you don’t have a tank, this won’t be a problem. Getting rid of the tank also allows more precise control over the heat of the water that you use, preventing possible incidental burns. It also ensures that the contaminants that build up over time in a tanked system don’t travel into your water lines and expose your households to toxins.

Choosing a Tankless Water Heater for your Frisco Home

There are many arguments towards switching to a tankless water heater. They don’t work with a pilot light, and because of that are less likely to overheat and build up pressure over time. And they’re easy to store in even the smallest homes, with a size and weight that’ll fit nicely in most closets.

Ultimately, when choosing between a tank versus tankless water heater for your Frisco home, you want to take into consideration the size of your household and the amount of water that you use. More than that, you should think about if a tankless heater will fit in your lifestyle.

Can you keep up with maintenance? Are you tech savvy enough to take advantage of a tankless water heater’s Wi-Fi compatibility? If the answer to questions like these is yes, a tankless water heater may fit well for you.

May 3, 2021
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