BY THE BOOK PLUMBING:
WATER HEATER REPAIR & REPLACEMENT
REPLACE OR REPAIR YOUR WATER HEATER
Most of the homes in our Service Area have their Water Heater located inside the attic. This is not an optimal location as it does make it more costly to replace when it does go out, leaks can escape the pan and damage sheetrock, and our hot climates can frequently make the Pilot Light go out during the intense Texas Summer heat.
Some customers may prefer to go with a Tankless Water Heater solution as this eliminates the storage tank in the attic, handles the Attic Temperature better during the summer months, and is able to provide an endless amount of hot water. We have found that Rinnai offers a sturdy, well-built product that is capable of meeting our customers needs.
OUR SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
We know emergency service situations can be stressful. We remove that stress by providing transparent upfront estimates we stick to and guarantee the work we perform. Find out why our customers love working with By the Book Plumbing!
WHY WE USE BRADFORD
- The single best reason to install a Bradford White gas water heater instead of one purchased from a home improvement store is that the White Rodgers control valve is better for our attic temperatures than the Honeywell gas valves are! Bradford White still sells Water Heaters with the White Rodgers valve as it has been reliably used for decades, it is simple to repair or replace, and parts are still easily available at local supply houses. It has been our experience that these brass-lined gas valves will work much more reliably in an attic than the newer Honeywell GasControl valves. The Honeywell Gas Control valves have a motherboard that helps regulate the temperature of the flame for the water heater. Keeping one of these motherboards in an attic that can easily exceed over 150 F can wear those units down and cause the motherboard to prematurely fail. In other areas of the country where the heater may be installed in a basement or a ventilated garage space, it’s not so much of an issue.
- Bradford White water heaters do not require annual cleaning of air filter vents. When water heaters are installed inside the attic, the dust from insulation in the attic can begin to choke out the air flow and cause the pilot light to go out. Bradford White heaters are built to withstand the harsh summer heat conditions inside of our attics.
- Vitraglas Lining: The tanks of Bradford White water heaters are glass lined with Vitraglas. Vitraglas is a material that is sprayed on the inside of the tanks and help protect the metal part of the water heater tank from failing prematurely. This lining resists corrosion, is long lasting, and lengthens the lifespan of the water heater. read more here
- Brass drain valve: Many people don’t know that the drain valve is the weakest point of a water heater. Most water heaters sold by home improvement stores have a drain valve that is made from plastic which can burst apart over time. When you think about it, why on earth would a manufacturer install a plastic drain on the bottom of the water heater which constantly heats up every day? The brass drain valves from Bradford White operates by turning a flat head screwdriver on the opening to control the water flow. These openings are more reliable than the plastic valves which can sometimes get stuck in the open position.
- Magnesium Anode Rod: The two most common Anode Rod materials are Magnesium or Aluminum. Aluminum is not an ideal material as when the Anode Rod breaks down, it can break apart and become sludge on the bottom of the water heater. This sludge can also cause a popping sound when the gas water heater kicks on and begins heating up the bottom of the water heater. In addition, it is not uncommon for the sludge to drift out through the hot water outlet
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About Water Heaters
One of the most common questions we receive is “How much will it cost to replace my water heater?” The answer is…Well, it depends! For example, a home that was built in the 70’s outside a city code jurisdiction may have had their Water Heater installed with an improperly sized Relief or Drain Pan line, their exhaust vent made out of a cheaper single wall material instead of double wall, or located in such a position that makes it physically more dangerous to remove because there is not a walkway to the unit. Additionally, some of our customers live within a city’s jurisdiction that requires a permit and inspection in order to replace their unit. It is because of these reasons that our company does not charge a service fee to visit your home during regular business hours to provide a personalized quote. Call now to schedule a technician.
Funny you should ask! We’ve actually created a guide for you. Click here to download (PDF).
- Severe corrosion of the water heater burner assembly on the bottom of the water heater.
- The welds of the water heater tank are beginning to show signs of corrosion. Even though there is no physical water present, this is a warning sign that the tank may be beginning to deteriorate.