Get Your Water Heater Installation Done Right with HVAC Professionals

Monday, November 27th, 2017

Are you considering upgrading your old, energy-guzzling water heater for a newer, EnergyStar-rated model? If so, you’re making a great choice. Today’s water heaters save homeowners hundreds of dollars in energy costs every year. They also, generally, pay for themselves within just a couple years. However, if you choose to install this appliance yourself, you could end up wasting money. When you’re ready to install your new heater, contact your local HVAC company. That’s right. These companies aren’t just for HVAC installation in Morningside, GA. Your local professionals are also the right pick for water heater installation.

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Water Heater Repair FAQ: Should I Flush My Tank?

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

You may have heard before that you’re supposed to flush your water heater tank every year or so. This is partially true. Your water heater does need regular flushing, although how often the tank is drained depends on a couple of factors. However, this is not a job for average homeowners to take on by themselves. Flushing a tank is a job for professionals only if you want to make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Talk to the people at Cool Air Mechanical for information about water heaters in Marietta. We can recommend professional services for prevention or to resolve any potential issues.

Many technicians advise that you service your water heater every year. This includes draining the tank to eliminate any sediment buildup. Sediment builds up in the tank as a result of minerals commonly found in the water supply. Over time, these minerals can increase the pressure in the tank to dangerous levels or they may block the pipes. Flushing the tank from time to time gets rid of these minerals and helps keep your tank in good working condition.

However, if you attempt to handle this service on your own, there are a couple of ways it can go wrong. Electrical trouble is perhaps the most jarring of possibilities. You’ll need to make sure that the power is off to the water heater unit before servicing it and that the water is shut off while draining the tank.

There are a few other things that may go wrong with a D-I-Y tank flushing. Flooding is always a possibility. And if you don’t open and shut all of the right valves, you may create a vacuum in the pipes that leads to noisy operation the next time you turn on the hot water. Besides, when you call professionals for the job, you’ll get comprehensive maintenance service for many of the different parts of your unit as well.

Call Cool Air Mechanical today to ask a professional to flush your water heater tank in Marietta. Our technicians will also go over all of the most important components of your system to keep everything running in top shape and can recommend services to improve the quality of your water heater.

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What Does Rusty Discoloration in My Hot Water Mean?

Thursday, January 29th, 2015

Discoloration in your water is never a good sign under any circumstances. Brown or red water coming out of your faucets means that there is rust present somewhere in your plumbing. Where that rust is located will determine how much trouble your system is in and what kinds of repairs will be required. If you’re only experiencing discolored water when you turn on the hot water, then it’s a good bet that the issue is in your hot water heater. Let’s take a look at the primary reasons your water heater would be rusting, both tank and tankless.

Storage Tank Water Heaters

Storage tank water heaters are actually very susceptible to rust, due to their constant storage of large amounts of water. A lot of water heaters possess a lining around the inside of the tank, usually made of glass, to ward off rust. Still, even that lining will eventually develop cracks and allow rust to start eating away at the tank itself. This is a very big problem, as a rusted out water tank can leak and eventually rupture, causing large amounts of water damage to the surrounding area. In order to address this weakness to rust, all water heaters have one or more sacrificial anode rods.

A sacrificial anode rod is a long metal rod that is inserted into the water heater tank. This rod actually attracts rust to itself, sparing the rest of the tank. Hence the “sacrificial” part of its name. Unfortunately, the anode rod will eventually become so corroded that it can no longer do its job. That’s when the rest of the tank starts rusting. If you catch rust in your water, you should call a professional to examine your water heater. Depending on how advanced the rust is, you may need to only replace the anode rod.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters don’t have to worry about rust resulting from storing large amounts of water. Unfortunately, they still have water flowing through them all the time, and can still rust. If your tankless water heater develops rust, it will most likely be on the heat exchanger. When this happens, the only solution is usually to replace the entire water heater. However, you should have a professional take a look at your water heater before making any decisions.

If you have discolored water, call Cool Air Mechanical. We provide water heater repair services throughout Alpharetta, GA.

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How to Choose the Best Water Heater for Your Home

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Water heaters are not a one-size-fits-all kind of appliance. Installing one that is too small won’t provide your home and family with enough hot water, and one that’s too big may waste energy and result in higher monthly energy bills. Additionally, you need to consider what type of water heater you’d like and what kind of energy it will use. If you need help choosing and installing a water heater for your home in Alpharetta, GA, call Cool Air Mechanical today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

Types of Water Heaters

There are a few types of water heaters for you to choose from:

  • Conventional water heaters – the most popular and well-known type of water heater, conventional water heaters have a storage tank in which the heated water is held for usage. The average lifespan of a conventional water heater is 10-15 years.
  • Tankless water heaters – tankless water heaters, also known as heat-on-demand, do not use a storage tank to provide your home with water. Instead, when you open your hot water tap on a faucet, your cold water is run through a heat exchanger that quickly heats the water and pushes it through your faucet. Tankless systems have an average lifespan of 20+ years.
  • Heat pump water heaters – just as heat pumps for your home transfer heat from one location to another to both heat and cool, so, too, do heat pump water heaters – they just transfer the heat into a storage tank to heat your water. Heat pumps home heating and cooling systems can also heat water, or you can have a stand-alone heat pump water heater. Heat pump water heaters are very energy efficient and have a lifespan of 10-15 years.

Fuel Types

There are 4 main fuel types by which to heat your water:

  • Gas
  • Oil
  • Propane
  • Electricity

Deciding which fuel type to use for your water heater will depend largely on what’s available in your home and your personal preferences.

Sizing

Properly sizing your water heater requires a small calculation.  First, you have to determine your home’s first hour rating, known as FHR. This is the amount of water used during the busiest water-using time of day, such as a weekday morning. To do this, allot 12 gallons of water per person; then add up the number of bedrooms and add 1. Take the number of bedrooms plus 1 and multiply it by the 12 gallons; this gives you your home’s FHR value.

Taking the time to choose the right water heater is critical. Let the trained technicians at Cool Air Mechanical help you install a water heater for your home in Alpharetta, GA.

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The Importance of Sizing a Water Heater for Installation

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

Though you may be looking forward to replacing your older water heater with a new more efficient high-performance system, many homeowners dread the installation process. Dealing with a contractor you know little about can be stressful as you don’t know whether you can trust an unfamiliar company to help you save money while finding you the most efficient system possible for your home and budget. Sometimes, homeowners cut corners by trying their hand at DIY installation or finding amateur technicians or family friends to do the work for them—which may prove to be a costly mistake later on.

Water heater installation might seem straightforward to some, but in reality it involves a complicated set of measurements and other factors to determine size, placement, efficiency and the type of water heater needed. Installation is not as simple as just hooking up components and turning on the water. First, a technician must decide which size works best in your home based on the layout of your home and plumbing system and the number of people who use hot water on a daily basis.

If a water heater is too small, it won’t be able to get the job done. You may notice that the hot water runs out too soon, and find yourself with a head full of shampoo and only cold water for rinsing, an unpleasant experience for most people. So, it seems as though you should be able to buy one of the largest systems possible and that will ensure you always have hot water, right?

Of course, if you get a system that is larger than you need, you end up paying more. Not only is installation more costly, but so are your monthly expenses. A storage tank water heater keeps water heated at all times, using up gas or electricity throughout the day to do so. A larger tank will need more energy to heat up, which means you may spend far more than you need to every month.

Make sure your water heater is sized and installed properly by relying on professional technicians only for installation, repairs, and annual maintenance. Get professional water heater installation in Atlanta by calling the folks at Cool Air Mechanical today to schedule a service appointment with us!

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Repairs for Electric Water Heaters

Thursday, October 23rd, 2014

It’s never a good feeling to turn on your shower in the morning and be greeted with freezing, brown, or horrible smelling water. If it happens, though, it’s a good sign that the water heater is having problems. So, what can be done to fix it? Read on to find out.

No Hot Water

The most common cause for this issue is a lack of power to the heating elements in the unit. Often, this is caused by a circuit breaker being tripped. Other causes can include a bad thermostat or broken heating element. If you aren’t getting any hot water, check the circuit breaker to make sure it hasn’t tripped. If the breaker appears to be fine, call an HVAC technician for a more thorough analysis.

Not Enough Hot Water

If your water heater appears to be working, but isn’t supplying enough hot water, you may have a problem with your heating element. A heating element that is defective or failing may not cut out completely at first, supplying lukewarm water instead of just cold water. It is also possible that your water heater is too small for the amount of hot water you are demanding. You’ll need a professional to confirm the problem in either case.

Rust in Your Water

This is caused by oxidation taking place in the tank of your water heater, causing rust to enter the water supply to be circulated throughout the house. By far the most common reason for this is that the anode rod, also called the sacrificial rod, is failing. This is an aluminum or magnesium rod that is inserted into the tank to prevent the tank from rusting. It’s called a sacrificial anode because it slowly degrades over time and eventually has to be replaced. If you don’t know how to replace the anode rod, any HVAC technician can do it for you.

If you are experiencing problems of any kind with your water heater, call Cool Air Mechanical. We offer quality water heater repair in the Duluth area.

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When Is an Electric Water Heater a Good Option for My Home?

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

When you need a new water heater in Marietta, it may be difficult to decide on your own which type of unit is right for your home. Today, there are many new types of units available on the market. Storage tank water heaters remain the most popular type due to the lower cost, but tankless water heaters are rising in popularity. In general, however, if you’ve never run into problems with your traditional storage tank water heater, you may decide to replace it with a similar system. But when you need a storage tank water heater for a new home, or if you’re looking at different options, there are two general types of unit, electric and gas-powered, which may lead you to wonder which type is right for you.

Electric water heaters work using the same heat rising principle as gas-powered heaters. A pipe that leads to the bottom of the tank lets cold water in. Here, a burner heats the water from underneath the unit in a gas-powered water heater. With an electric unit, a heating element inside the tank heats the water instead. Hot water naturally rises above the denser cold water and flows into your home through a pipe positioned at the top of the tank.

Both types of units are about equally effective at providing hot water. But for the most part, people choose electric water heaters when they don’t have access to natural gas service. While gas heaters may be more costly than electric, the cost of operation tends to be much higher with electric water heater units because the cost of electricity is higher than the cost of gas in most areas. However, an electric water heater may best for those who need a smaller unit to heat water for a smaller apartment. In fact, you can even upgrade your system with an insulated water heater blanket to prevent heat loss and lower your bills.

The decision ultimately has to do with the size of your home and your family, your energy concerns, particular needs for installation and monthly cost, and what type of system you are replacing. A professional technician will discuss the cost of installation as well as which types of units may be most efficient in your home. Cost will vary depending on what size tank you need and any upgrades you choose, so you should always check with your technician first. For professional water heater installation in Marietta, call the experts today at Cool Air Mechanical.

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Can I Do Water Heater Repairs on My Own?

Wednesday, September 10th, 2014

Do-it-yourself projects are a great way to save a little money and learn a new life skill—in some situations. But when it comes to your home’s water heater, professional technicians simply have more experience dealing with water heater repair, and can better ensure everything gets back to normal as soon as possible. This is a large piece of equipment, so a poor repair job may lead to costly replacement. If you want to make a sweater, test out a chili recipe, or try your hand at flower arrangements, by all means, do it yourself. But here are the reasons you should not attempt to make any water heater repairs on your own.

The Problem May Not Be What You Think

Sometimes, a problem with your water heater may seem to be another problem entirely. A quick internet search can bring up dozens of sources for any repair need and you may choose the one that seems most logical. Noises from your tank? Simply flush out the tank to drain sediment rattling inside of the tank, right? Not necessarily. Noises from your tank may require a technician to check the pressure valve, or look for other problems within the pipes.

If you turn on your hot water and notice that the water is rust-colored, an internet search may inform you that you should replace the rusty anode rod. Or an ill-informed guide may tell you to drain your unit. However, rust colored water may indicate a more serious problem. You’ll want a professional to rule out storage tank corrosion before making any quick repairs.

Professionals Are Experienced and Are Equipped with the Right Tools for the Job

A professional simply has the right tools and know-how to take care of a water heater repair quickly and professionally. Without a trained eye to look at the problem, you simply cannot be certain you are taking the right course of action. For water heater repair in Roswell, trust one of the experts at Cool Air Mechanical. We’re open 24/7 for emergency repairs and have the right equipment to get your water heater running smoothly today! Call us today to schedule an appointment.

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Does Rust on My Water Heater Mean It Needs to Be Replaced?

Wednesday, August 13th, 2014

A water heater puts metal in contact with water, and that’s a recipe for rust (as long as there is also oxygen). Rust is one of the principle enemies of water heaters, a conditioning you want to avoid at all costs. Fortunately, water heaters have precautions that will keep rust away for most of their lifespans.

But if rust does start to form on your water heater, or it appears in the hot water coming from your taps, is it an automatic farewell to the system? Do you need to immediately schedule a replacement?

Not necessarily. But you do need to schedule service immediately from a Duluth, GA water heater specialist to find out what’s wrong, if it can be repaired, and what your installation options are if it can’t. Call Cool Air Mechanical and talk to our water heating technicians as soon as you detect rust anywhere on your home’s water heater. We have technicians standing by, 24/7, for your convenience.

Rust and Your Water Heater

The component that keeps a water heater from rusting is the anode rod, sometimes called the sacrificial anode rod because it draws corrosion to itself so that it won’t enter the water heater tank, effectively “sacrificing” itself to prevent rust. But once the anode rod completely rusts through, it will no longer protect the water tank. This is why it’s crucial to schedule regular maintenance for the water heater; the technician will know when the anode rod needs to be replaced.

If your heater is relatively young (less than halfway to its expected lifespan), then the first appearance of rust is probably because of an anode rod that needs replacement. If you act quickly enough, a repair technician can often save the system from further damage.

Rust and corrosion can also start because of excess sediment inside the tank, so make sure that you have the tanked flushed on a regular basis (usually during maintenance) to avoid this from occurring.

If you have an older water heater that is at, near, or beyond its manufacturer’s estimated lifespan, then the appearance of rust, especially along the bottom of the water heater, is a good indication that it is time for a replacement. Call a specialist for an informed opinion, and then let the specialist help you select a new unit and arrange for skilled installation.

Cool Air Mechanical offers full services for your water heater in Duluth, GA. We handle installations, maintenance, and any type of repair you may need so that you don’t lose your steady supply of hot water.

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Why Should I Consider a Tankless Water Heater?

Thursday, May 15th, 2014

Most people are accustomed to traditional tanked water heaters, which sit in the basement or garage and carry water in a standing tank. But that’s not the only type of water heater you can use for your home. Tankless water heaters, which heat the water instantly as they travel to your faucet or outlet, offer a number of advantages over the more traditional models. Many services that offer water heater installation in Atlanta also handle tankless water heaters as well. “Why should I consider a tankless water heater?” you ask. We’ve provided a few compelling reasons below.

The main benefit is that it costs less to run than a traditional tanked water heater. A regular water heater needs to expend a lot more energy in order to maintain that amount of water. Tankless systems heat the water more or less as it flows, which saves a great deal of energy and costs much less in terms of monthly bills. (That also translates to increased speed as well. Because tankless water systems heat the water instantly, you don’t have to wait and run the water while it slowly warms up to the temperature you want.)

Tankless water heaters also benefit because they don’t require natural gas to run. This makes them extremely beneficial in houses that don’t have access to natural gas, such as cabins or vacation homes. No natural gas also means no toxic byproducts, making tankless systems a greener alternative to traditional models.

Finally, there’s the convenience of a smaller unit, which allows it to fit comfortably under the sink and in other easy-to-reach spots. That makes repairs much easier, which can be a godsend in moments when the unit doesn’t function the way it should.

Tankless water heaters tend to cost more to install than tanked models, and they function best when the demand placed on them is small (making them good for small families or vacation homes where they won’t see a lot of excessive use). But the benefits are tangible and make it much easier to consider a tankless water heater for your home. The experts at Cool Air Mechanical handle water heater installation in Atlanta all the time, and we can put in a tankless system with courtesy and care. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

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