One of the more familiar appliances in the home is the water heater and there are several types available. The most commonly used version has a storage tank to hold the heated water. The tank based Water Heater in Poulsbo Wa comes in various sizes with typical units ranging from twenty to eighty gallons. Most homes make use of the forty gallon model, which balances the amount of stored water versus heating times quite well. Tank based water heaters use one of two methods for heating the water. The first is burning a fuel such as natural gas or propane. The other method of heating is electrical resistance.
Gas burning water heaters can be rather complex systems. One reason for this is the need to control fuel flow whenever the temperature of the water changes. The combustion is done at the base of the tank. The exhaust exits through the pipe in the center of the tank. This turns the tank into a giant circle, but it also helps heat the water because the heat from the exhaust is transferred through the metal of the tank.
It is important that the exhaust is properly connected and maintained. This is necessary because a poorly maintained exhaust system could trap fumes inside the building. Plus, a blocked exhaust could affect the way the flame burns. Poor airflow lowers the level of oxygen available to the burning fuel and this limits the amount of heat generated. In some cases there may be no flame at all due to lack of airflow.
Electric water heaters use heating elements placed inside the tank. The number of elements for a Water Heater in Poulsbo Wa is usually two, but the smaller twenty gallon units only use one. Each element needs a thermostat so the device shuts off when the water reaches a specific temperature. If an electric water heater fails, then the most likely problem is a broken heating element.
There are several other problems that can affect an electric water heater. One is a short between the heating element and a ground such as the tank. A short circuit like this results in a continuous power loop. This means the water will continue heating until the safety switch trips. Thermostats can also fail and deprive the elements of electricity. Each of these problems can be remedied with the help of an experienced plumber.
