How Does a Water Heater Work?
Both electric and gas water heaters follow a similar process:
- Your heater brings in your cold water supply through its dip tube.
- Your heater heats the water inside your tank via electricity or gas.
- The water rises and runs through your water pipes throughout your home.
Both gas and electric water heaters contain the following parts:
- Thermostat
- Drain valve
- An insulated water tank
- Temperature and pressure relief valve
- Anode rod
Our Water Heater Maintenance Services
A water heater exercises two primary functions: heating water and keeping water heated for as long as possible. The first function provides comfort, while the second function provides efficiency.
The right water heater tank grants its users heat when needed without losing heat too quickly. However, a loss in heat translates into higher energy bills. Regular repair and maintenance sessions prevent these problems while extending your water heater’s longevity.
An annual water heater maintenance in Pacifica, CA, session ensures your unit is properly functioning. Our team inspects your heater, cleans and checks your connections, and removes sediment from your water heater tank.
Our Annual Inspection Benefits
Tank water heaters last between six and 13 years, while tankless water heaters last up to 20 years. These lifespans depend on proper maintenance.
A water heater combats heat, mineral deposits, corrosion, and more. These elements impact your unit’s performance, reducing comfort and causing failures or breakdowns. Our Works Plumbing annual maintenance service provides the following benefits:
- Detecting issues early
- Extending your water unit’s longevity
- Cutting down on energy costs
- Eliminating breakdowns and costly repairs or replacements
- Improving overall performance
- Increasing your family’s comfort
Our Full Maintenance Process
Besides cleaning up your tank and removing sediment, our full maintenance check includes the following procedures:
- Testing your igniter and gas valves (when you have a gas water heater)
- Inspecting your flue and burners
- Checking for any potential leaks
- Flushing heat exchangers (for tankless models)
- Checking your unit’s overall performance
- Inspecting your drain and pressure relief valves
- Checking your anode rod and removing any sediment buildup
We recommend repair or replacement services if our team discovers any issues. We prioritize clear communication and transparency and recommend the most cost-effective and efficient options.
Why We Recommend Tankless Water Heaters
Our well-equipped team handles all water heater models and types. However, we recommend our clients invest in a tankless water heater, especially if their existing water heater needs extensive repairs or replacement.
A tankless water heater carries the following benefits:
- More energy-efficient as it only operates when turned on
- A dramatic reduction in energy bills
- It takes up far less space than other water heaters—easily mount it to your wall
- A much longer lifespan than traditional water heaters
- Gas and electric options
Signs You Should Replace Your Water Heater
Sometimes, repairing a water heater is more expensive than replacing it. Common signs you should replace your water heater are:
- Its age: Nothing lasts forever, and this is especially true of water heaters. Even with the proper maintenance, a system older than 15 often requires a replacement.
- Skyrocketing heat bills: Unexplained heat or water bills indicate a system needs replacing. Let our team inspect and recommend the most suitable options.
- Colored water: When turning on the tap, a reddish tint means a rusty water heater tank. Water runs throughout your home and poses a health risk when it turns rusty.
