How do you know if your hot water heater is operating efficiently?

If you haven’t had your water heater serviced for a while, we can get it back up and running. If your current water heater has seen better days, you may want to replace it.

While heating water is a simple concept, the process of fine-tuning your home’s water heater requires considerable expertise. Equity Plumbing only employs technicians who have a wealth of experience.

We can repair or replace any brand. We’ve been providing this service for years and years. We offer a variety of modern options that let you choose what and how you want it.

We provide service, repair or replacement for the following types of water heaters

Conventional Gas tank (repair or replace)

  • A gas water heater uses the heat from burning a fuel (usually natural gas) to heat water, while an electric water heater uses electric resistance coils. Gas water heaters are less energy efficient than electric heaters, but the cost of electricity itself makes the running costs of an electric heater higher. Gas water heaters also have a much faster recovery rate, which makes them a convenient option for larger families.
  • In the United States, about 60% of homes use gas-fired water heaters, and 40% use electric.
  • A gas heater can heat a 50-gallon tank in about one hour. Its recovery rate (i.e. time taken to reheat a tank of water after use) is much faster than that of an electric heater. Another advantage of traditional gas water heaters is that they’ll still work in the event of a power outage.

Conventional Electric tank (repair or replace)

An electric water heater offers two distinct advantages over natural gas or propane models: installation is much simpler, requiring only that you properly wire the unit; and the units offer less safety risk, as they don’t require gas. Because of this, you can put an electric water heater almost anywhere in your home or business, without worrying about being close to your natural gas line or propane tank. Gas water heaters require a exhaust pipe to allow un utilized heat to escape. Electric waters are 100% efficient but require a constant heating of the elements. For small families, electric may be your best choice as fewer people mean less need for quicker recovery times a gas unit provides.

High Efficiency Gas Storage

High-efficiency gas storage water heaters employ the same technology as standard gas storage water heaters: a glass-lined steel tank is heated by a burner located at the bottom of the tank. But a few basic changes make them operate more efficiently. Many ENERGY STAR certified models simply have better insulation, heat traps, and more efficient burners, improvements that have a modest impact on price lead to 8% less energy use. Some very high efficiency models use a secondary heat exchanger that extracts more heat from the combustion gas, cooling it to the point where there is condensation– hence these types of heaters are called “gas condensing.” These gas condensing water heaters, like gas condensing furnaces, require venting through a vertical PVC pipe and a condensate drain. A standard gas water heater usually provides an 80% efficiency rate and require a exhaust pipe to existing chimney. High Efficiency Gas Storage can range up to 96% and can be exhausted using a PVC pipe to the outside. Research showed there are highly engineered systems. This is worth checking into when the need arises.

Tankless Water Heaters

For people using gas water heaters, two options are offered–natural gas or propane. According to Energy Star, 15 percent of a home’s energy use is attributed to heating water. Both types of gas water heaters offer the same performance in heating. For areas where natural gas is not available, people may choose propane as the source of heating their water. Propane heats water just as well as natural gas, but is not as cost-effective. According to the Consumer Energy Center, the yearly cost of operating a natural gas water heater is $190, compared to $343 for propane when the price per therm is 70 cents. Propane will be stored in tanks on your property and require refills from time to time. Propane is a good option for areas without the access to a natural gas line, homes not serviced by an electrical grid or for someone who wants the convenience of a quicker recovery heating times (time it takes to reheat a depleted supply)

Propane

  • A gas heater can heat a 50-gallon tank in about one hour. Its recovery rate (i.e. time taken to reheat a tank of water after use) is much faster than that of an electric heater. Another advantage of traditional gas water heaters is that they’ll still work in the event of a power outage.
  • Tankless water heaters are more efficient than storage tank water heaters in part because there is no standby heat loss. However, one downside to a tankless water heater is the lack of capacity when running more than one hot water tap at the same time
  • Tankless Gas have a 10.6 to 11 gallon per minute vs the depending on the fuel, natural gas or propane. Tankless gas are more efficient than their electric counterpart. Gas units may require annual look overs.
  • Tankless Gas have a 10.6 to 11 gallon per minute vs the depending on the fuel, natural gas or propane. Tankless gas are more efficient than their electric counterpart. Gas units may require annual look overs.

Solar Water Heating

Solar water heaters come in a wide variety of designs, all including a collector and storage tank, and all using the sun’s thermal energy to heat water. Solar water heaters are typically described according to the type of collector and the circulation system.

Collector types

  • Batch collectors, also called Integrated Collector-Storage (ICS) systems, heat water in dark tanks or tubes within an insulated box, storing water until drawn.
  • Flat-plate collectors typically consist of copper tubes fitted to flat absorber plates. The most common configuration is a series of parallel tubes connected at each end by two pipes, the inlet and outlet manifolds.
  • The flat plate assembly is contained within an insulated box, and covered with tempered glass.
  • Evacuated tube collectors are the most efficient collectors available. Each evacuated tube is similar to a thermos in principle. A glass or metal tube containing the water or heat transfer fluid is surrounded by a larger glass tube. The space between them is a vacuum, so very little heat is lost from the fluid.

Circulated Systems

  • Direct systems circulate water through solar collectors where it is heated by the sun. The heated water is then stored in a tank, sent to a tankless water heater, or used directly
  • Closed-loop, or indirect, systems use a non-freezing liquid to transfer heat from the sun to water in a storage tank. The sun’s thermal energy heats the fluid in the solar collectors. Then, this fluid passes through a heat exchanger in the storage tank, transferring the heat to the water. The non-freezing fluid then cycles back to the collectors
  • Active, or forced-circulation, systems use electric pumps, valves and controllers to move water from the collectors to the storage tank. These are common in the U.S.
  • Passive systems require no pumps. Natural convection moves water from the collectors to the storage tank as it heats up.

Reasons Why Calling Equity Plumbing is Wise:

  • Family owned and operated local plumbing company.
  • Peace of mind – our work and your satisfaction are guaranteed, period!
  • Our first goal is to solve your hot water problem. If your current water heater is degrading, you may be able to improve its function with some minor adjustments.
  • We visit, we listen, we provide options, you choose, then we make it right.
  • If a water heater is sourced from a “Big Box” store, either you deal with installation, or you deal with a third party sub-contractor. If something does go wrong, who are you going to call? The “Big Box” store, the manufacturer, the sub-contractor? And the wait time, oh that wait time.
  • Who is responsible for the extra labor charges?
  • All of our water heaters are warrantied immediately. No questions asked and no authorization for any repair or replacement. You call us and we will handle it.
  • Our technicians have been screened and trained to proficiency, with guaranteed customer satisfaction.
  • Having a state-of-the-art plumbing installation is one of the factors that set Equity Plumbing apart. To avoid any future issues, our technicians will conduct the installation in compliance with your county and municipality requirements. Another important consideration.

Reviews

“Great service highly recommend
Troy was excellent ! He showed up on short notice and worked past regular business hours. His pricing was extremely reasonable - I highly recommend this company.”

BiancaNewport Beach, CA

“Trustworthy, professional
Troy has helped us out a few times, the latest was repairing a shoddy job done by our general contractor. Troy took care of replacing a pipe that should have been done and resealed the toilet. No more leaks! He is kind, responsive and professional!”

CherieNewport Beach, CA

“Troy was able to come fix the problem promptly. He was on time, did a great job, and was very polite and nice. His price was reasonable.”

LiliaIrvine, CA

“A++ Plumber and Person
Troy is the most honest, reliable, and professional service person I have ever encountered. From the moment I met him, I knew he was a very decent person and that I had made the right call. He has always been very clear about what he feels is the problem and what he will do to address it. He does so with incredible professionalism and care toward your home. Every time I have referred him to a friend they have thanked me and commented on how much they liked him. He is really a great guy and someone you can trust.”

AndyNewport Beach, CA

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