Whether you’re just beginning your day or coming home after a long one seeking to relax, having hot water at the ready is an integral part of our lives. From taking a morning shower, enjoying a long evening soak in the tub, doing a load of laundry or washing a sink full of dishes, you need to have hot water that is adequate and reliable. At Beehive Plumbing in Utah, we can help you determine what is the best water heater solution for your home.
What Is a Gas Water Heater?
First off, you might be wondering, what a gas water heater is and what differentiates it from the rest. When we say gas water heaters, we’re discussing any water heater that is heated using gas power, and for the most part, this is differentiating it from the most common alternative choice of water heater: the electric heater. There are also less common options, including solar water heaters and indirect water heaters.
How Does a Gas Water Heater Work?
There are many different kinds of water heaters, but what they all have in common that they are powered by gas. The most common gas water heater has a tank, which stays filled and replenishes as the water is used. The water that remains in the tank is called the reserve. As water is refilled from the water line down into the tank. This water at natural temperature is always colder than the heated water in the tank and sinks to the bottom (cold will always sink just as heat rises). There is a gas burner beneath the tank that is fed by a gas supply line and heats the water. When the hot water is needed, the hot water rises up out of the tank. Because the heater is fueled by gas, there must be a chimney system to dispose of carbon dioxide produced from burning gas.
What Are the Benefits of a Gas Water Heater?
It is less expensive to purchase and install a gas heater than it is an electric. Also, a gas heater is able to replenish hot water much more quickly than other methods, so it is ideal for large families that use large quantities of hot water: nobody likes it when the shower suddenly turns cold! The gas water heater has the side benefit of still working when the power goes out, so if you live in an area where this is a common problem, then you might find a gas water heater best for you. If areas, where gas is sold at cheaper rates than electricity, than savings on monthly bills, can add up.
Benefits of Using Gas to Heat Water
- lower upfront cost
- faster heating time, perfect for large families
- works when the power goes out
- if fuel costs are low, the cost to heat water is low
Gas Water Heater Installation in Utah
Here are a list of the different kinds of gas water heaters our professional Beehive Plumbers install:
Conventional Storage Gas Water Heater
This is the type of water heater we discussed above. The water is always being heated whether you need it or not, but when you need it is always there immediately. The tanks come in a range of sizes, though they are most commonly between 30 to 80 gallons. It’s important to choose the right size for your home’s needs, as you will be heating this water all of the time, so it would be a waste of money to purchase a tank that is much larger than what you need.
- Most common kind of gas water heater
- Can customize the size to fit the needs of your home
Indirect Water Heaters
Indirect water heaters work within the existing heating system of your home. Water in a tank is heated by the boiler or furnace. Indirect water heaters can be gas powered, but they can also be oil, solar or propane powered, just like your home. They can also use a combination, with an additional power source giving the tank a boost. Depending on your existing heating system and the structure of your house, indirect water heaters can be an excellent, cost-effective choice.
- Generally most efficient gas water heater
- Can be most economical long-term choice if you can find the right system to work with your home
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters are the newest choice for heating water and are certainly the ideal choice when space is at a premium or in situations where multiple water heaters are decided, such as in an apartment building or multi-family home so that everyone can pay their own water bills. With tankless water heaters, the water goes directly from the water pipe into the unit where it is quickly heated. Tankless water heaters are available in both gas and electric, with gas heating the water most quickly: up to 9 gallons in about 2-5 minutes.
- Conserves space
- Ideal for installing multiple water heaters in single building
Gas Water Heater Repairs and Maintenance
Once you’ve chosen the right water heater for your home and had it properly installed it should last you many years. But as long as you have hot water flowing, it’s easy to take it for granted. Whichever water heater you choose should have regular maintenance to make sure it’s running well, does not fall victim to corrosion, and ensure you never run out of hot water.
But like all things in life, sometimes things go wrong, and repairs are needed. While the easiest to spot a sign that something isn’t working with your water heater is, of course, no hot water, some other signals that you need repairs include:
- Decrease in amount of hot water
- High pitched whining noise
- Water leaks around the unit
- Unable to light the pilot or it continually going out
Here are three additional problems your water heater might face and what causes it:
- Low rumbling noise: You’re hearing water boiling, which is not what you want in your tank. Sediment has gathered at the base of the tank, causing pressure to build and allows the water to overheat.
- Rust colored water: Either corrosion is beginning inside the tank or the anode rod needs to be replaced.
- Rotten Egg Odor: Either bacteria is in the tank sediment, or hydrogen gas has been created by an anode rod that needs to be replaced.
Trust Beehive Plumbing for Gas Water Heater Repairs, Replacements, and Installations in Utah
Whatever problem your water heater might be facing, we at Beehive Plumbing are here to help. Our plumbing experts are quick and reliable. We offer affordable solutions as well as a 100 
percent guarantee on all of our plumbing services. So whatever water heating system service you need, from routine maintenance to purchasing a new water heater, Call Beehive Plumbing in Utah at 801-312-8102 to schedule your free consultation and estimate and use one of our coupons for a $50 discount on water heaters. We proudly serve all of Utah’s commercial and residential plumbing needs, always providing honest, professional and friendly service, at a great price!
