There are a variety of useful features in household plumbing including those easily operating taps and smoothly flushing toilets. However, one of the most important features in any home is Water Heaters. There are various appliances that fit this bill such as electric storage tank systems or the gas burning versions of them. Alternately, the property owner may choose the in-line or flash heating system. Either of these appliances will handle the load provided everything is installed properly, and the size of the appliance is calculated correctly.
Storage based Water Heaters typically range from twenty gallon models to those that hold eighty or one hundred gallons. The average home usually has a thirty or forty gallon system in order to reduce heating time and the amount of energy required to keep the water hot. Heating the liquid requires a constant temperature while keeping the water hot usually demands short heating times. All of this work will be controlled by a thermostat, so the water doesn’t get too hot and scald anyone.
This brings up a problem that could occur with an electric water heater, a short in one of the heating elements. This problem can manifest in two different ways. The first is a clean break in the element that stops it from creating any heat at all. The other happens when the element blows but still leaves a portion of the metal touching the other side. Alternately, this issue can develop if the tank has a lot of mineral deposits. This normally affects the lower element first. The fault becomes noticeable when the system continuously trips the safety switch located by the thermostat or the water coming from the tap is scalding hot.
The alternative to tank based systems is the flash heating unit. This particular appliance can be purchased as a whole home unit or one small enough to supply a bathroom or kitchen. One advantage of smaller systems is the ability to install one in each area where hot water is needed. This provides quick access to heated water without the wait that often comes with the storage tank system.
