Most homeowners never think about the hot water heater until they notice they don’t have hot water. Hygiene, cleaning, laundry, food preparation, and more all rely on hot water. Without access to hot water, essential tasks like keeping your clothes and yourself clean would become difficult. Today’s water heaters work so efficiently that most people can set them and forget them. However, I’m bringing it to your attention today, so you don’t end up stuck in the cold without any hot water. We’ll cover all the services we provide, from water heater repairs and installations to tankless heaters and geothermal options.

Green Tech Plumbing Co. is a family-owned and operated business located in Des Plaines, IL. For nearly 15 years, our plumbing shop has proudly served local homes and businesses. Our plumbers are union members and are fully licensed, bonded, and insured. What sets our service apart is our dedication to quality. Our plumbers routinely complete continuing education and certification courses. Some are even Navien-certified tankless experts. When you work with our plumbing crew, you can rest assured that we know what we are doing, we work efficiently, and we’ll treat your home like it belongs to a family member.

There are only a few repairs that can be done on water heaters. If your water heater won’t turn on or turns on but keeps shutting off, it’s likely a gas control valve issue. Replacing a gas control valve typically takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Other potential repairs include replacing burner assemblies, vapor sensors, or the T&P valve. However, repair options are generally limited, and if the water heater is leaking, it will most likely need to be replaced.

A good rule of thumb is that if the repair costs more than 50% of the price of a new unit, replacement is the better option. Our plumbing experts will guide you through the process and help you decide whether to repair or replace your water heater.

There are several steps you can take to extend the lifespan of your water heater. Conventional tanks should be flushed at least once a year. This process involves shutting off the water supply to the heater and draining the tank through the outlet at the bottom.

After a few years, it’s also a good idea to replace the anode rod. The anode rod helps prevent rust and corrosion inside the tank, which can lead to leaks. It attracts corrosive elements in the water, protecting the tank by sacrificing itself and prolonging the life of your water heater.

Water heaters can cost thousands of dollars to install, maintain, and operate. Choosing the right water heater for your property is an important decision that you’ll have to live with for years. Nowadays, there are a variety of options available, including traditional (tank), tankless, and geothermal water heaters. Each option has its own pros and cons, but today, we’re going to compare the two most popular types: traditional (tank) water heaters and modern tankless water heaters based on cost, efficiency, and maintenance. While both units heat water, there are important differences between them that are necessary to understand. As someone who has worked in a plumbing shop for the past five years, I know that selecting the right water heater for your property can save you money and frustration in the long run.

Traditional and tankless units can run on gas or electricity, depending on your system, but they operate differently. Traditional water heaters keep a steady supply of hot water in the tank, ready for use. When you turn on a tap, water is pulled from the tank’s hot water reservoir, and pressure moves it up the line to your faucet. Tankless units operate in a similar way but with one big difference: they produce hot water on demand instead of storing it in a tank.

Both systems operate flawlessly, delivering hot water whenever you need it, but traditional water heaters consume substantially more energy to keep the entire tank of water heated and ready for use. However, in contrast, tankless units only use the energy needed to heat the water to a specific temperature, and they do so as necessary. For example, traditional units require a few hours to heat the water to temperature after installation, whereas tankless units start producing hot water instantly.

There are hundreds of different water heaters at various price points, but whether you’re interested in a traditional or tankless unit, they always follow the same pricing matrix. Tankless units cost two to three times more to install than traditional units. Both the water heater itself and the labor required to install a tankless unit are more expensive than a comparable traditional unit. While the upfront cost of a tankless unit is higher, it can save you money in the long run compared to a traditional unit because it uses less energy. How much you money saved depends on how long the water heaters are in operation and the cost of natural gas or electricity in your area. On the other hand, if you’re on a budget or facing the unexpected cost of suddenly replacing a water heater, a traditional unit might be a more economical option in the short term.

Both water heaters will require maintenance at some point in their life cycle. Skipping maintenance on either heater will reduce its longevity and could cause problems in the future.

Traditional water heaters can be serviced by the homeowner with just a garden hose and a drain. Once per year, attach a garden hose to the drain valve, direct the hose into a nearby drain, open the spigot, and let it run for a few minutes. Performing this annual maintenance is simple, costs nothing, and even if you forget to do it one year, the system will likely still function properly. Some homeowners never service their traditional hot water tanks.

However, tankless units require more attention and skill than traditional water heaters. Due to the increased complexity of the flush, hiring a professional plumber is recommended. Once per year, the unit needs to be shut down and drained. After draining, a strong vinegar or descaling solution is needed to remove mineral buildup. If you have particularly hard water, skipping this annual maintenance is likely to cause problems. Never performing maintenance will very quickly kill the tankless water heater.

Whether you need a traditional water heater or a tankless water heater depends on your circumstances. Someone who doesn’t plan on staying in the home long-term or detests maintenance tasks would be better suited for a traditional water heater. On the other hand, if you plan on settling into the home for a while and efficiency is important to you, then a tankless unit might be the optimal choice. Whatever you choose, both water heaters can provide hot water reliably for years to come.

For more information on water heaters, check out Wikipedia. 

If you’re looking for a reliable plumber for water heater replacement or repair, look no further than Green Tech Plumbing. Based in Des Plaines, IL, we proudly serve the northwestern suburbs, including Park Ridge, Morton Grove, Northfield, Mount Prospect, Niles, and the Northwest Side of Chicago.

All of our plumbers are licensed, insured, and bonded. With over a decade of experience in the local area, we provide expert service, and all estimates are free.