Should I Insulate My Water Heater?

Your Water Heater May Already Be Energy Efficient

It’s easy to take your water heater for granted. It’s only when it stops doing its job—producing hot water for your household—that most people start thinking about it.

But that’s not always the case. The cost of heating water for your household each month can be a concern for New York homeowners who are struggling financially. This group may be tempted to follow the popular energy-efficiency tip of insulating their water heater tank to save money. But in many cases, this is not recommended, or even necessary.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you don’t need to insulate your water storage tank if the model has been manufactured since 2004 and has a thermal resistance rating of R-24. If you don’t know your water heater’s R-value or when it was made, just touch the tank. If it doesn’t feel warm, additional insulation is not needed.

To sum up, unless you have a very old water heater, it’s generally unnecessary to add insulation to it. If you do add insulation, however, you should leave that work to a qualified plumbing or heating contractor to avoid making costly mistakes.

Please be aware that the life span of the most common water heater—units with a storage tank—can vary greatly, anywhere from 7 to 13 years. If your water heater is older than that, rest assured you’ve certainly gotten your money’s worth out of it. It’s time to invest in a replacement system.

Benefits of a Propane Water Heater

When it comes to heating water, New York homeowners have multiple options. Each has its advantages, but propane water heaters often stand out for efficiency.

Propane water heaters typically heat water quickly. This means less waiting for hot water and more immediate comfort. Propane water heaters are known for their energy efficiency. They can save you money on your energy bills by using less fuel to heat water. This efficiency is not only good for your wallet but also beneficial for the environment.

Types of Water Heaters for Your Home

The most common type of water heater is a unit that has a dedicated burner inside to heat water that is stored in a tank. As you use the water in the tank, the supply of hot water is constantly replenished. But the cost of constantly heating your water can add up.

That’s one reason why many homeowners today are opting for a tankless propane water heater when it’s time to replace their direct-fired unit.

A tankless water heater needs less space in the home and provides a virtually endless supply of hot water on demand. Tankless water heaters are also more energy-efficient and have a longer life than storage tank water heaters.

NY Rebates for Propane Water Heaters

As you consider your water heating requirements, or if you need some help figuring out what’s most important, get in touch with your New York propane service company. They’ll be glad to walk you through the process and help you get a better understanding of your household’s hot water needs. They can also tell you all about current New York rebates that will help you save money on a propane water heater as well as other propane heating equipment.

It’s important to note that when you want to install propane-powered equipment, it’s essential that you bring in a licensed technician. Propane equipment is extremely safe when installed properly. But as with all energy sources, improper installation can be dangerous. Certified propane technicians have the training, experience, and tools to do the job quickly, correctly, and safely.

This is largely because of the Certified Employee Training Program (CETP), which is run under the direction of the Propane Education & Research Council. What’s more, you can only take advantage of available equipment rebates if your installation is inspected for safety with a Gas Check®.

Please speak to your propane appliance provider about this inspection.

How Does a Propane Gas Fireplace Work?

Vented Vs. Ventless Propane Fireplaces

Are you considering adding a propane gas fireplace to your New York home? If you decide to go ahead, you’ll get to enjoy multiple benefits, including attractive realistic flames that bring warmth and coziness to a living space, which can increase the value of your New York home. Plus, many fireplace models can run during electrical power outages, providing a critical source of supplemental heat in winter.

Among the different models you can choose from are what’s known as a ventless fireplace—also referred to as an unvented or vent-free fireplace. Here’s how this type of fireplace works.

Propane gas flows into a gas burner mounted in the fireplace. This is a specially designed burner that burns the gas cleanly, leaving behind almost no exhaust. This is also how a propane gas stove in your kitchen works.

When ignited, the flames run through gaps in artificial ceramic fiber logs, providing you with the illusion of a real wood-burning fireplace.

One popular application is the vent-free gas fireplace log set, a self-contained system that can be installed in walls or even open areas, with no outlet to the outdoor air. These gas log units can also be installed in place of old and unused wood-burning hearths that connect to a chimney but where the flue has been sealed shut.

A ventless gas fireplace is a great choice if you are looking for the highest heating efficiency possible. As its name implies, this type of fireplace is not vented to the outside. Because of this, all the heat produced is contained in the living space. Ventless fireplaces are more energy efficient than vented fireplaces because no heat goes up the flue, so you’ll save money on fuel.

Pros and Cons of Ventless Propane Gas Fireplaces

If you decide on a propane gas fireplace insert in your existing masonry fireplace, you need to decide whether to get a vented or vent-free model. Efficiency, fireplace location, local building codes, and appearance of the fireplace should all be considered before the gas fireplace installation.

If you choose vented gas logs, you’ll see a lifelike flame that is comparable to a genuine wood fire. However, to get this look, an open chimney flue or damper is needed, and a lot of the generated heat will escape through these venting outlets.

With vented gas logs, you’ll have excellent energy efficiency, but the flame may not be as realistic or powerful. The result: it won’t provide quite the same level of warmth. A thermostat regulates the temperature in vent-free log sets to keep a constant environment. Because vent-free gas logs introduce moisture to the air, adequate ventilation is necessary to prevent mold and mildew growth.

Also, because vent-free gas logs do produce a small quantity of exhaust into your indoor environment, they are not right for bedrooms or other small, closed spaces like bathrooms or RVs. Vent-free gas logs are also prohibited in some local building regulations. Before going ahead with your ventless gas fireplace installation, you need to confirm that vent-free gas logs are permissible in your community.

How Often Do I Need to Replace My Gas Logs?

One of the most common questions for people who have a propane gas fireplace in their home is this: how often should I replace the logs in a gas fireplace?

The short answer is it depends on the type of gas logs you choose. Ceramic refractory gas logs, which are made from reinforced cement, can last 8-10 years before showing signs of wear.

On the other hand, lightweight ceramic fiber gas logs, which are made from a material much like hard foam, can typically show signs of wear after about five years of use. However, if not subjected to heavy use, these logs can typically last 10-15 years before they need to be replaced.

Why Does My Propane Tank Gauge Never Read 100%?

Following the 80/20 Rule for Propane Tanks

Have you ever noticed that right after your New York propane supplier delivered your fuel, they didn’t fill your propane tank all the way up to the 100% level?
Don’t worry. Your propane supplier is not doing anything wrong. Quite the contrary. They’re looking after you by following what’s known in the industry as the “80/20 rule.” This rule is followed for a very important reason: safety.

Propane: From Liquid to Gas

The propane in your tank is stored as a liquid. The liquid changes into gas before it leaves the tank. That’s why it’s called liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

Like any liquid, propane will expand when its temperature rises. The difference with propane is that it expands a lot, and quickly. Its volume increases nearly 17 times the volume of water over the same increase in temperature.

This is why your propane delivery driver needs to leave extra space in your tank. This enables propane to safely expand. Aboveground propane tanks are typically filled to about 80% capacity; underground tanks can be filled slightly higher because they are insulated against the heat.

That extra space in the tank provides a cushion against the pressure that builds up inside the tank. For example, a 500-gallon tank filled to 80% will safely hold 400 gallons of propane.

This safeguard is especially important in hot weather—when liquid propane expands the most. It’s important to note that the amount of gas in the tank doesn’t change during periods of expansion and contraction–only its density does. For example, if you notice that the tank gauge reading fluctuates slightly during quick temperature swings (hot day, cool night), again, don’t worry because that’s perfectly normal.

Propane gas expansion is also a reason why you should never paint your outdoor propane tank a dark color. This is because dark colors absorb more heat.

Preventing Propane Tank Runouts

Life can get busy with work, family and other obligations. And sometimes, you might forget to go outside and check your tank gauge to see how much propane is in your tank. If the reading is 30% or less, you know it’s time to call your New York propane supplier to schedule a delivery.

If you forget to check your tank, however, you risk running low or completely running out of propane. That means the expense and hassle of an emergency propane delivery. And if you run out of propane, you also need a propane professional to perform a required pressure test on your propane system and relight the pilots on all your appliances. That’s another expense.

Many of New York’s propane companies offer a solution with their automatic delivery service, which relies on your customer history and the current weather to estimate your propane usage. Then they deliver more fuel before you run low. Some companies even offer propane tank monitoring. Tank monitors use wireless and cellular technology to send real-time data about your propane levels. Your company will know precisely when you need fuel, and you can often watch your own tank with a wireless app.

If your propane company doesn’t offer automatic delivery, or if you prefer the control of always calling in your order, you need to be vigilant about monitoring your propane tank gauge levels and request a delivery when your tank is between 25% and 30% full. While your propane dealer may be able to make a delivery within a day in case of an emergency, it is always best to provide a few days’ notice. This advance notice is necessary for scheduling your home into a propane company’s delivery route.

Please check with your propane company to find out what services and options they offer.

What Maintenance Does a Water Heater Need?

Proper Maintenance Saves You Money

How long can you depend on your current water heating system to keep all your hot water flowing without any problems?

The life span of the most common water heater—units with a storage tank—can vary greatly, anywhere from 7 to 13 years. (Tankless, on-demand propane water heating units last much longer because water is not constantly sitting in a tank being heated).

How long your storage tank water heater lasts depends on multiple factors, including the temperature of the water that is set for the tank, the volume of water used, the overall quality of the water heater model and the water quality.

In terms of water quality. many people around the country must contend with “hard water,” which means their domestic water has a high amount of mineral content. In New York, our water is considered moderately hard. Manufacturers usually recommend that you flush your water heater on a yearly basis to remove any mineral particles, dirt or debris that has collected inside your tank. This will improve water heater efficiency and extend the life of your water heater.

To head off any problems with your water heater, it’s a wise idea to call on an experienced propane service technician, HVAC contractor or plumber to flush out your hot water storage tank once a year. Your service professional should also check the condition of the anode rod, which generally lasts from 3-5 years.

What Is an Anode Rod?

Storage tank water heaters contain many parts and components, including a long metal anode rod, which extends the life of your water heater by preventing corrosion from building up inside your tank.

Usually made of magnesium or aluminum, the anode rod does its job through a process called electrolysis. The metals in the anode rod attract ions that normally would cause rust in iron and steel. But instead, these ions latch onto the anode rod and as a result, cause it to degrade over time. Without the anode rod, your water heater could rust out in just a few years. That’s why it’s important to replace the anode rod after it degrades.

In general, all storage tank water heaters have an anode rod, regardless of fuel type. The one exception is if you have a stainless-steel tank, which is immune from corrosion.

Tankless Water Heater Maintenance

While propane gas tankless water heaters don’t require anode rods, they do need some periodic maintenance to keep them running properly. Besides an annual flushing, it is recommended that the air filter and water filter be cleaned.

Read more about water heater maintenance for your tankless propane unit.

Propane Water Heaters

If you’re looking to upgrade your water heating system, propane is the way to go! Propane provides more hot water faster, with better energy efficiency than other options.

Propane water heaters also take up less space, have more accurate temperature adjustment and offer more size and installation options.

NY Rebates for Propane Water Heaters

As you consider your water heating requirements, or if you need some help figuring out what’s most important, get in touch with your New York propane service company. They’ll be glad to walk you through the process and help you get a better understanding of your household’s hot water needs. They can also tell you all about current New York rebates that will help you save money on a propane water heater as well as other propane heating equipment.

It’s important to note that when you want to install propane-powered equipment, it’s essential that you bring in a licensed technician. Propane equipment is extremely safe when installed properly. But as with all energy sources, improper installation can be dangerous. Certified propane technicians have the training, experience, and tools to do the job quickly, correctly and safely.

This is largely because of the Certified Employee Training Program (CETP), which is run under the direction of the Propane Education & Research Council. What’s more, you can only take advantage of available equipment rebates if your installation is inspected for safety with a Gas Check®.

Please speak to your propane appliance provider about this inspection.