Cincinnati Water Heater Service

As mentioned above, water heaters should last around 8 to 12 years. They consume a decent portion of your home’s total energy spend, so an older, inefficient model isn’t necessarily a great unit even if it lasts as long or longer than expected. Upgrading to a new gas water heater, electric water heater, heat pump water heater, or even a tankless water heater could offer improved energy efficiency and performance for your family.

Turn to Thomas & Galbraith to learn your options for water heater replacement. We carry a fine line of tank water heaters that come in all sizes. If you need help, let our plumbing experts match you to the right equipment options based on the needs of your household.

If you wonder how much it costs to replace a hot water heater, call us today to request a free estimate for water heater replacement.

Many Cincinnati homeowners do not realize tank water heaters require maintenance. Flushing the water heater tank is something that should be done on a yearly basis. As water passes through natural gas or electric water heaters, sediment and minerals fall out, and settle on the bottom of the tank. Over time, they build up, restricting space and blocking heating elements from delivering full energy to the task of water heating, and the hot water produced is no longer done efficiently.

Flushing water heaters is a do-it-yourself project for many, but there’s good reason to hire a plumber for the job. Inexperience with the task could lead to hot water burns and damage to the unit if done incorrectly. For example, you don’t want to flush an older tank water heater if it’s never been done before!

Trust the Thomas & Galbraith plumbing team to deliver skilled water heaters maintenance services in addition to repair and replacement. Our team makes sure this task is performed safely and correctly to improve the efficiency of your water heaters. Avoid the risk of hot water burns and system damage by calling us when you need help with system maintenance for tank water heaters.

Approximately 14% of your home’s annual energy bills are water heating expenses – the water heater is the 3rd largest energy consumer in the home, behind space heating and air conditioning. Because this process accounts for a significant portion of your energy dollars, you want to make a smart decision when shopping for new equipment.

When you need to replace your gas water heater, electric water heater, heat pump water heater, or even tankless water heater, the plumbers of Thomas & Galbraith are available and ready to assist you in finding the right water heater to fit your household’s hot water demands. Generally, we tell our customers to evaluate the following criteria to help them arrive at the best equipment option for their homes.

1. Water heater capacity. A top concern of Cincinnati homeowners is what size water heater do they need. To determine the appropriate capacity for a new water heater, we need to look at a unit’s First Hour Rating (FHR). The first-hour rating shares the number of gallons of heated water that can be supplied by the unit each hour, starting when the tank is full of water. It’s important to size your new water heater accurately because a unit that is too small won’t be able to meet your household’s hot water demand, while a unit that is too large expends more energy than necessary. Make sure you determine the right size for a new gas water heater, electric water heater, or heat pump water heater – call Thomas & Galbraith and have our plumbers perform the necessary leg work to determine the water heater size for your home.
   
2. Energy efficiency. Higher-efficiency water heaters are going to cost less to operate than lower-efficiency units – since this system will be in service for around a decade, it can greatly impact your natural gas or electric bill. Look at a water heater’s Energy Factor to determine its efficiency – the higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater. Utility costs also play a role in determining the best choice for your home. Higher-efficiency electric water heaters may cost more to operate than lower-efficiency natural gas water heaters purely due to utility rates – if you have a choice between gas or electric water heating, check into this before you decide which way to go.
   
3. Water heater cost. How much does it cost to replace a hot water heater? Price is an important consideration, but it shouldn’t be the only determining factor. Look for the best option within your price range and be sure to consider operating costs over the years, not just the purchase cost.