Tips for Your Propane Water Heater
Extend Water Heater Life with Maintenance
We don’t have to tell you that a water heater that works properly plays a significant role in your home’s overall comfort and energy efficiency. An inefficient, malfunctioning water heater can lead to higher energy bills and decreased performance, affecting your wallet and your peace of mind.
Bottom line: keeping your home’s water heater in good condition and running properly is essential.
Now that we’ve reminded you what an important role a properly functioning water heater plays in your comfort, let’s look at the reasons why a propane water heater is such a smart investment.
Propane Water Heater Benefits
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.
How Long Does a Water Heater Last?
The life span of the most common water heater—units with a storage tank—can vary greatly, anywhere from 7 to 13 years. How long your water storage tank lasts will depend on such factors as:
- the temperature of the water you set for the tank
- the volume of water used
- the overall quality of water heater model
- water quality (amount of mineral content)
Note: the overall quality of water in New York State is considered “moderately hard.”
To head off any problems, especially if you have hard water, it’s a wise idea to have an experienced service technician flush out your hot water storage tank once a year. This procedure will remove sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank. This sediment is caused by the build-up of minerals. The technician can also check the condition of the anode rod, which generally lasts from 3–5 years.
What an Anode Rod Does
Tank water heaters have multiple 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. This is the unsung “hero” of your water heater.
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 on to 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 couple of years! That’s why it’s so important to replace the anode rod after it degrades.
Types of Propane Water Heaters
The most common type of propane 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.
However, more New York homeowners are opting to install a tankless propane water heater when it’s time to replace their direct-fired unit. (If you have a tankless water heater, you do not have to worry about getting the anode rod checked because it doesn’t need one).
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.
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.