Marietta Hot Water Heater Repair.

Water heaters come in three basic types: natural gas, electric, and tankless. Depending on a home's construction, gas and electric heaters may be installed in many different places in the home. Basements, crawlspaces, garages, and attics are all common locations for water heater installations. The type of heater installed is usually dependent on what type of power source is readily available. In other words, if the home uses natural gas for its heating, a gas water heater will typically be installed. The same goes for electric heaters. Tankless water heaters are a whole other ballgame.

Natural gas water heaters are perhaps the most common type found in most homes. They are efficient, produce very hot water temps, and generally last for several years. They do use combustion to heat the water, and as such must have adequate ventilation. Gas water heaters must be installed in fairly open areas so that air may pass through and around the unit. They must be vented outside the home, either by themselves or by tying the vent pipe into the heating/air unit's. There are some gas water heaters that use different venting systems, but for 99% of homes, standard gas water heaters are used. They generally need replaced every 12-15 years.

Electric water heaters used 220-240 volt current to heat the water via elements inside the heater. The temperature to which the elements heat the water is controlled by thermostats located on the side of the unit. The temperature settings must be adjusted by a professional due to the risk of electric shock while doing so. Electric water heaters typically have a slower recovery rate than gas units. This means that after a hot shower, it takes an electric heater more time to fully heat the tank of water back to its correct temperatures. Electric water heaters do offer some advantages. They can be installed in a wider variety of places due to the lack of necessity for venting or air flow. The life span is typically the same.

Tankless water heaters use a high-efficiency heating assembly to heat water as it enters the unit. It continues to heat the incoming water until you t=stop using the faucet/shower/etc. In this respect, tankless units provide "endless" hot water. The wait for hot water is typically longer, due to the fact that there is not tank of hot water waiting on you to use. The water must be heated on demand, so there will be a wait until the water is heated, then reaches whichever fixture you are using. Tankless units take up very little space, usually use a combination of gas and electric power, and are extremely efficient. Prices are significantly higher, but the average lifespan is somewhere in the area of 25 years.