Water Heater - Larry & Sons, Inc.

4 Signs You Should Buy a New Water Heater

Posted on November 21, 2016November 21, 2023 by Larry & Sons

Every day, we depend on our water heaters for so many things. From washing our clothes and dishes to providing a relaxing hot shower at the end of a long day, we expect a lot from our water heaters. Unfortunately, many homeowners take their heaters for granted and don’t give them much thought until they stop working completely.

At Larry & Sons, we’re here to help when you’re experiencing water heater problems, and we can help you determine whether you should repair or replace your system.

While water heater repair is an effective solution in some cases, in many others, it’s best to invest in a replacement. If you think it might be time to replace your water heater, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Signs You Should Get a New Water Heater

Water Heater Replacement — Do you need a new water heater? Here are a few signs!

Your water heater is old. Even if you purchased a top-of-the-line water heater, it won’t last forever. In fact, tankless water heaters are only built to last 20 years at most, while conventional heaters with storage tanks only last eight to 12. If your water heater is nearing the end of it’s expected lifespan, you may want to consider buying a new one.
You’re noticing higher energy bills. As your water heater ages, it becomes less efficient. If your energy bills have been climbing and you have an older water heater, up to 25 percent of your bill could be related to the cost of heating your water. Upgrading to a newer unit could save you a bundle.
You’re running out of hot water faster than you used to. Sediment builds up in water heaters over time, decreasing the amount of water they can heat and store. If your showers are being cut short because you’re running out of hot water, it’s time for a new heater.
Your heater has visible signs of damage. Leaks below your water heater and rust are definite signs that your system is nearing the end of its life. Inspect your heater regularly, and if you notice either of these things, you might want to consider buying a new unit before yours fails. You may also want to consider upgrading if you’ve been having problems and needing frequent water heater repair.

New Water Heater in Hagerstown

If you need a new water heater in Hagerstown or the surrounding areas, count on Larry & Sons. Our certified plumbers are here to help you choose the heater that best suits your family’s needs, and they’ll install it promptly at a time that fits your schedule. For professional water heater replacement, call Larry & Sons now at 301-733-5428.

Water Heaters: Tank or No Tank?

Posted on September 11, 2015April 27, 2023 by Larry & Sons

Water heaters are bulky, can be extremely noisy from time to time, and are otherwise forgotten until they stop working and we’re greeted with a stream of ice-cold water. These wonderful machines improve sanitation by giving us hot water for cleaning and increase comfort for relaxing baths and cleansing showers. But they can also cost us quite a bit when it comes time to pay for the utilities used every month. That’s the price of on-demand hot water comfort. Or is it really? Depending on your situation, switching to a tankless system can reduce your costs without removing the luxury of ready-to-use hot water. Continue reading “Water Heaters: Tank or No Tank?”

How to Cut Water Heating Costs

Posted on June 21, 2015December 20, 2023 by Larry & Sons

You may think that the only way to cut hot water usage is to use less hot water, but there are other ways to save money and energy. Although heating and cooling the air in our homes takes up most of our home’s energy costs, second on the list is hot water heating.

Water heating accounts for roughly 20-25% of our home energy consumption. Learn how to reduce your water heating costs with these 3 energy saving tips:

1. Lower Your Water Heater Temperature

Source: The Family Handyman

Most water heaters are automatically set to 140 degrees, which is often way too hot for most uses. Thousands of people go to the hospital every year from water water burns. Not only is it dangerous, but it is also inefficient to have the temperature set that high.

Most plumbers recommend a setting of 120 degrees, but you should experiment with the temperature to get it exactly where you want it; hot enough, but not too hot that it causes burns.

If your water heater does not have temperature numbers on the dial, you may have to do a little testing. First, test the temperature of your hot water by filling a glass with hot water and measuring it with a thermometer. Keep adjusting the dial until you get a glass filled with 120 degree water.

2. Install Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Source: truevalueprojects

You can always save water and money by simply using less water, especially hot water, but you can continue to spend the same amount of time in the shower and still save on hot water costs by installing low-flow fixtures.

It is cheap to replace your fixtures with low-flow options and can reduce your hot water consumption anywhere from 25-60%!

Don’t worry about performance, because while low-flow fixtures can reduce the rate of flow by 50% or more, you still feel as though you are getting the same amount of water as before.

Contact Larry & Sons for more information on low–flow faucets, fixtures, and toilets.

3. Insulate Your Pipes (Maybe Your Tank Too)

Source: DIY Network

A lot of heat is lost through your pipes. Insulating your hot water pipes save you money on costly heat loss, but while you’re at it, you might as well insulate those cold water pipes to prevent dripping condensation.

Although there are several types of insulation to choose from, we recommend Tubular Sleeve Insulation.

If your pipes require more than one sleeve, make sure that you duct tape the seams that connect the two sleeves.

For more ways to save on your water heating bill, read energy.gov’s 15 Ways to Save On Your Water Heating Bill.

If you need help changing your hot water heater setting, insulating your plumbing, or installing low-flow fixtures in Maryland, give Larry & Sons a call at 301-733-5428.

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to schedule your annual heating tune-up. We offer installation, maintenance and repair of boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, and geothermal systems.

With our maintenance plan, we’ll remind you of your annual tune-up, provide 15 % off all repairs, and much more!

New Water Heater Regulations for April 2015

Posted on March 28, 2015December 22, 2023 by Larry & Sons

The U.S. Department of Energy’s new water heater regulations go into effect this April 16, 2015!

What this means for you depends, but we do know that after April 16^th, water heater manufacturer prices will increase $100-$200 and the stricter installation requirements will increase your upfront costs even more.

The graph below shows us that the new water heater regulations will mostly affect larger gas and electric models. If you already have a solar, tankless, or small water heater, these new regulations won’t affect you as much. In fact, your water heater might already meet these new standards.

Source: mechanical-hub.com

The larger gas and electric water heaters (greater than 55 gallons) will need to significantly increase their Energy Factor (EF) in order to comply with the U.S. DOE’s Final Rule.

Starting April 16^th, all new water heaters will need to be made more efficient and installed in a specific way. Manufacturer prices could increase upwards of 30%, raising the cost of your new, larger, energy efficient water heater over $200.

New requirements, such as vent piping and possible relocating, will also increase installation and maintenance costs on the new system.

Basically, the new water heater regulations will increase your home energy efficient (remember, water heating accounts for about 20% of your home’s total energy uses), but the larger upfront costs may offset the savings. Basically, do you want $100 now or 27¢ every day for a year?

So you have two choices:

Buy an older, smaller water heater now and save on all the new, higher upfront costs and avoid having to find a new home for your water heater.
Wait until after April 16^th and purchase a larger, more energy efficient water heater and reap the energy efficiency savings over the period of your water heater’s lifespan.

Our recommendation is that if your water heater needs to be replaced soon, save on the upfront costs of the new models and install an older, but still energy efficient model now.

Here are some signs that you water heater needs replacing, courtesy of AngiesList.com:

1. How old is your water heater?

It’s crucial to know the age of your water heater. Find the age by looking for the serial number on the manufacturer’s sticker on the upper portion of the water heater. Generally, most water heaters that are more than 10 years old should be considered for replacement.

2. Rusty water

If you discover rusty water coming from your water heater and it only comes from the hot side piping in your home, this can be a sign that your water heater is rusting away on the inside and it may begin to leak soon.

3. Rumbling and noise

As a water heater ages, sediment will build up on the bottom of the tank. As the sediment is heated and reheated, it eventually will harden. When this happens, you can often hear rumbling or banging sounds coming from the water heater as it is heating up. This is a sign that the water heater is at the end of its useful life.

4. Water around the water heater

If you notice moisture around your water, you may have a small leak or a fracture in the tank. If your water heater is in a location that will not cause damage if there is a leak, you can wait until it develops a leak before replacing it, but that really is not recommended.

If you do install an older, less energy efficient model, there are some things you can do to increase its energy efficiency, such as lowering the temperature and installing and insulation blanket.

Consider Tankless

A tankless water heater only operates when water is turned on so that it’s not using any energy when not in use, but just on standby waiting for you to turn on a faucet. The natural or LP tankless heater has up to a 15 year warranty with enough capacity to supply any hot water demand and any size home with proper professional sizing of the tankless unit.

If your Hagerstown water heater is nearing the end of its life expectancy period, you can consider replacing it with a new one, so that you can stop wasting money on your energy bill every month.

Call Larry & Sons Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn about our Hagerstown water heater replacement services!

If you are having trouble figuring out how old your water heater is or if it is need of service or replacement, give Larry & Sons a call at 301-733-5428. We’d be more than happy to help!

Check out our maintenance plan; we provide fall and spring HVAC tune-ups, provide 15 % off all repairs, and much more!