November 22, 2017 by Curtis McQuinn Leave a Comment

Fall and winter water heater tips

Fall and winter water heater tips from Optimized Plumbing & Piping Sonora, Ca

Its that time of year when we start getting calls from people with burnt out heating elements on their electric water heaters. Whether you are a full time resident who has drained down your water lines while out of town, or have a cabin you drain down to prevent freezing this post will help you to prevent dry fired heating elements in your electric water heater. If you have a gas water heater or tankless water heater it is a good reminder to maintain the water heater to preserve the high efficiency because of the colder water this time of year. Call us for maintenance, service or new water heater installations. 209-352-4294

The steps to draining down and refilling and starting electric water heaters is mixed up frequently and often causes burnt heating elements and service calls that would not be needed. Here are some tips:

Before draining down water lines turn off the electricity to your electric water heater this will prevent the burnt element at drain down
Once the power is off shut off the main water shutoff valve
With the water shutoff open the drain valve, and open all faucets, shower/ tub valves etc.
If you have a shower diverter open that too, to prevent trapped water in the shower riser
Flush all toilets (Some places will also require some care for drain lines, and I will write another blog post about these soon)

To refill the system when returning:

Shut off the drain valve
Open the main water valve
turn off the faucets and shower valves
run water through the hot water lines until all air is out. You will get some blast of air, then air and water, and then a steady stream of water.
turn on electricity to the water heaterMany people forget the bleeding of the air from their water lines, and the air that is trapped in the water heater moves to the top of the tank and has nowhere else to go until you open the hot water line to bleed the air. Turning on the electricity before the air is bled causes an element at the top of the tank to turn on and without water to take some of the heat will burn out quickly and not heat the water. This is called a dry fire, and requires replacement of the heating element.

Hopefully this helps you prevent the inconvenience and cost of a burnt out element. If you are in need of plumbing service in sonora ca or surrounding areas please call 209-352-4294

February 27, 2017 by Curtis McQuinn Leave a Comment

Energy Efficient water heaters Sonora ca

Electric Hybrid Heat Pump water heater for your Sonora Ca home

Most of our customers around Sonora, Ca have heard about tankless water heaters and many are interested in them because of benefits like higher efficiency, longer lifespan, features like recirc pumps, and endless hot water. A less known about technology in energy efficient water heating is the electric hybrid heat pump water heater. They are about 2X as efficient as a conventional electric tank type water heater, and in my opinion are by far the best choice for heating with electricity (a much better option than electric tankless). They come with features that like touchscreen displays that let you easily change temperature, the heating mode and even putting it into vacation mode. Some of the models we have installed can even be controlled with an app on a cell phone letting users turn them on and off from almost anywhere. They are a little bit more expensive up front but come with a longer warranty than the cheaper less efficient models (10 years compared to 6) they currently have pretty good rebate programs they qualify for, and most of the time pay for themselves within 3 years.

Below are a couple of pictures of a hybrid electric water heater installed in Sonora, Ca including the energy sticker and a side view of the heater. The electric water heater we took out had a yearly estimated cost of $452 compared to this one of $151. This is a 65 gallon model so has more storage than the old 50 gallon model and is still less to operate!

Check out a short video we have here: https://youtu.be/MHhdrpBstPc

This is one of the quietest water heaters of this type we have heard!

If you have any questions or would like an estimate call 209-352-4294

This is the energy estimate sticker for this energy efficient water heater

This hybrid water heater has a digital display on the front. On the side you can see one of the fans it uses for its high efficiency.

February 1, 2015 by Curtis McQuinn Leave a Comment

New water heater requirements coming 2015 explained by a Sonora Ca plumbing contractor

Sonora Ca plumbing Contractor explains:

New water heater requirements go into affect April 2015

The NAECA (National Appliance Energy Conservation Act) is requiring improvements for energy efficiency on water heaters starting April 16 2015. This is leaving property owners wondering what this will mean for them when their inefficient water heater needs to be replaced. Below you can find what changes will be made and how they can affect your next water heater installation.

For help deciding which water heating option is best for you call us at 209-352-4294.

Increased insulation thickness of 2″ or more

Expect your new storage tank type water heater to have more insulation to improve it’s efficiency. The extra insulation around your water heater will probably make it 2″ or more in diameter, and 2″ or more in height. This will make areas where the water heater barely fit before unusable for the new water heater, or could just require more labor for the installation which will add more to the cost.

Biggest changes for water heater installations in Sonora Ca over 55 gallons

A new electric water heater over 55 gallons will probably need to be the new hybrid electric heat pump style. This is because the efficiency requirement is raising from around .86 to around 1.97 for most models of electric water heater over 55 gallons. Expect this to add well over $1,000 to the cost of a standard electric water heater. The costs can be offset not only by savings from the extra efficiency (about 2X as efficient), but many electric companies are offering rebates of around $500. The hybrid electric heat pump water heaters are much larger than standard electric models and may require changes to the installation area. They also work like a refrigerator in reverse (instead of keeping the inside cool and blowing heat out the bottom, they keep the heat in the water and push the cool air to the surrounding room.

A new gas water heater over 55 gallons will most likely need to be a condensing unit which will cost more not only for the water heater but also for changes that will need to be made for the venting, and possible condensate.

Tankless water heater requirements

New tankless water heater installations will need to use units with an energy factor of .82 compared to the current standard of .62. This won’t make much of a difference for our customers because the condensing tankless water heaters we have been installing have an energy factor of .97 which is much higher than even the new standard. These high efficiency models have been a big draw because of the higher cost of propane to heat water compared to areas that use natural gas. But with the changes in standard tank style water heaters and the higher cost of installation we expect even more customers to see the value in spending a little more upfront to get the most energy efficient models.

What is an energy factor?

Basically the energy factor is the percentage of energy that is used and converted into hot water. A energy factor of .97 means that 97% of the energy used is converted to hot water. You’ll notice that the hybrid heat pump water heaters ratings are much higher than even the most efficient gas tankless water heaters. This doesn’t exactly mean the cost of heating is lower because you are comparing two energy sources that have different costs. The rates of electricity and propane would need to be factored in to find the lowest cost.

Optimized Plumbing and Piping is a Sonora, Ca based plumbing contractor who provides plumbing service and repair, residential and commercial plumbing for new construction and remodel, and hydronic heating and radiant heating in Tuolumne, Calaveras and Stanislaus counties.

May 12, 2014 by Curtis McQuinn Leave a Comment

Recirc pumps and tankless water heaters

Should a tankless water have a recirculating pump?

The answer is yes! But it needs to be done correctly or it could use more energy and make your hot water less convenient than without it and waste a lot of water at the same time. Read below to see the different options for using a recirculating pump with a tankless water heater so save energy and water. Or give us a call with any questions at 209-352-4294

A condensing tankless water heater with internal recirculating pump and buffer tank with dedicated recirculating line.

This is by far the most efficient and convenient way to heat water and waste less water. The built in recirculating pump and buffer tank work together to have hot water ready when you need it at the fixture, and you don’t run out like with tank models. The hot water can be controlled with a thermostat and timer so the unit only kicks on when you have it set, and in those time periods only when the water in the line falls below around 90 degrees. This limits the amount of power the pump uses, and how often the burner fires keeping cost down, and efficiency high. Many times adding a tankless water heater with internal recirculating pump and buffer tank with a dedicated recirculating loop from the furthest fixture from the water heater can cut waiting times for hot water from a couple of minutes to around 10 seconds which can save thousands of gallons of water per year. If there is no existing recirculating line many times it can be added with copper or pex. If the hot water line and the recirculating loop are both well insulated the efficiency is greatly increased.

A condensing tankless water heater with internal recirculating pump and buffer tank without a dedicated recirculating line.

Some of the newest models of tankless water heater we are installing can use a crossover tee at the furthest sink from the water heater. This tee will let some of the cooled off water in the hot water line into the cold water line as the internal pump in the water heater pushes the hot water closer to the furthest fixture. When the water at the fixture heats up the crossover tee stops letting water through so the cold water line doesn’t get hot, and your tankless water heater stops running. This is a good solution if you want the convenience of the recirculating line but can’t add the insulated recirculating loop because of cost, or because the pipes are not accessible to run a line back to the water heater.

A tankless water heater with an added recirculating pump and buffer tank.

This is an option if someone didn’t want to buy the more expensive unit up front, and wanted to buy a standard tankless and add on recirculation later. Unfortunately this installation ends up costing more and the system does not work as well together. If an older tankless is installed we have used this method to cut wasted water from waiting for hot water to get to fixtures. A tankless that is only a few years old doesn’t need to be replaced just to cut down on wait time and save water !

A standard tankless water heater with a recirculating loop and no buffer tank.

This is a bad idea but happens when an installer doesn’t understand how a tankless works, or is trying to cut corners. The pump can get the tankless to kick on but it shuts off every time the pump kicks off. When a tankless kicks off it doesn’t start making hot water again immediately when it is turned back on. Cool water enters the heat exchanger and passes through without being heated completely or at all. This means when you turn on your shower it feels warm because the pump pushed hot water through the line, but when the cold water that goes through the heat exchanger without being heated from startup comes through the line you get a cold shot of water in your shower. This wastes a lot of energy with almost no real benefits. We recently saw one of these systems that the owners had been dealing with for years. The pump also had no timer so it was running any time the water temperature dropped 24 hours a day making their “more efficient” tankless water heater extremely inefficient and giving them intermittent cold shots of water in their showers. When offered the more efficient condensing unit with internal recirc pump and buffer tank to eliminate the cold they quickly decided it was a good idea. They had never been told about the right way to do it and thought the cold water shots were normal for a tankless water heater.

Optimized Plumbing is a Sonora Ca based plumbing contractor specializing in tankless water heaters, hybrid heat pump water heaters recirculating systems, hydronic heat, radiant heat, and plumbing service and repair. We service all areas of Tuolumne and Calaveras counties including the towns of Angels camp, San Andreas, Murphys, Arnold, Twain Harte, and Copperopolis.

May 9, 2014 by Curtis McQuinn Leave a Comment

Sonora, Ca plumbers /Optimized Plumbing resolves low water pressure problems

Sonora Ca plumbers from Optimized Plumbing & Piping can help you if you have low water pressure, or low water flow!

Our Sonora Ca plumbers have found that several things can cause low water pressure or flow including old corroded pipes that are full of rust or other debris, an underground water leak that is large enough to drop water pressure, or just low water pressure coming from the County main, or from your own well. The good news is any of these problems can be solved by one of our expert plumbers based out of Sonora, Ca. Read the sections below to find out how, or call 209-352-4294 to schedule an appointment.

The difference in low water pressure, and low water flow described by a Sonora, Ca plumber.

Water pressure can be measured with a gauge that is put on at a hose connection. Ideal water pressure is around 60 psi. If water pressure is above 80 psi our Sonora, Ca plumbers recommend installing a pressure reducing valve to get it back to normal pressure. Anything below 40 psi and we hear complaints about low water pressure. If water pressure is normal but you still don’t get the volume of water you would like the problem is probably an obstruction in the pipe, or a narrow passageway that the pipe has to go through. This is common with old galvanized pipes, because the corrosion starts on the inside. Many times when our Sonora, Ca plumbers re-pipe the water lines of a house they find pipes that were nearly closed up on the inside from rust and corrosion.

Solving low water flow problems described by a Sonora, Ca plumber.

Low water flow normally needs to be fixed by finding the obstruction in the pipe, and removing it. Our Sonora, Ca plumbers have found obstructions that can include calcium or lime buildup, sediment that is clogging fixtures like shower heads and faucet aerators, or entire water piping systems with so much corrosion that water can barely get through. If the problem is in a single faucet it could be solved by simply removing the aerator, cleaning out any sediment or scale, and replacing it. If there is low flow everywhere in the house the more likely cause is the pipes are corroded which can be remedied by re-piping the house with Pex water pipe. Either way one of our Sonora, Ca plumbers from Optimized plumbing can help-

Just call 209-352-4294

Solving low water pressure problems described by a Sonora, Ca plumber.

If water pressure is measured by a gauge, and is low a pressure boosting pump can be added to the water line to get the desired water pressure. Some new pressure boosting pumps like one of our Sonora, Ca plumbers recently installed in Jamestown comes with a flow switch, pressure switch, and internal expansion tank. What does this mean? It means the whole pressure boosting system comes in one small package with everything needed to increase your water pressure. The internal expansion tank takes the place of a much larger expansion tank that takes up more room, but serves the same purpose which is to keep the pump from cycling on and off too often. The flow switch tells the pump to come on when it senses flow, and the pressure switch tells the pump to come on when pressure in your water line drops.

If you have a problem with your water system call us today at 209-352-4294 to schedule an appointment, and let us solve your problem for you. We offer plumbing service for all parts of Tuolumne County, and Calaveras County.

To find out more about our Sonora, Ca based plumbing repair service go to http://optimizedpiping.com/blog/sonora-ca-plumbers/

Call Now 209-352-4294