Common Questions About Residential Hot Water Heaters

You may not think much about your home's hot water heater, but once it breaks down or you realise it's not large enough to provide hot water for your entire family, you'll then understand why you need an efficient unit that is always in good repair! Note a few questions you might have about hot water maintenance so you know what type OF heater to get when you're in the market for a new one and what to do if you have problems with yours.

1. What are quick recovery models?

One problem with many hot water heaters is that it takes several minutes to reheat any water that fills the tank when it's in use. This is because most hot water heaters have one heating element, typically at the bottom, that heats water as it comes into the unit; this can be a very slow process. However, a quick recovery model will typically have more than one heating unit, usually one at the top as well as the bottom of the unit, so that fresh water gets hotter, faster. This is good for families where you use up lots of hot water quickly but don't have the space or budget to invest in a much larger unit.

2. What produces hot water faster, an electric or a gas model?

The rate at which your water heater actually heats water is affected by more than just the method of heating; the average ground temperature, the amount of insulation that surrounds the tank and the temperature of the room in which the tank sits will all affect the temperature of the water inside. Rather than assuming that one heating element is better than the other, you might invest in the most cost-effective model for your home and then ensure it's covered in thick insulation.

3. Why are there flakes in the water?

If your hot water has flakes, this can be caused by a number of factors, including minerals in the water itself. The inside of the hot water heater could also be rusted and a part needs changing. The minerals in the water may have also solidified and then clung to the sides of the heater, damaging its insides; when the water gets warm, the minerals soften and cause that metal to flake away. There are also a number of rods and other parts in the heater that control the temperature of the water and its flow, and any one of these could be broken and need repair.

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