Tag: water heater

Top Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters

Published on

Water heating takes up a significant portion of electricity in your home, so it is important to make sure you have a good water heater. While many homes use standard water heaters, others are switching to tankless water heaters as these appliances bring a lot of advantages. If you are considering getting a tankless water heater, here are some of the top advantages of having one, brought to you by the pros at Roman Electric.

What Exactly is a Tankless Water Heater and How Does it Work?

Think of a tankless water heater as a standard water heating appliance. However, the main difference between a tankless water heater and a regular water heater is that the latter continuously heats water, whereas a tankless one only heats water when it is being used. Tankless water heaters don’t use storage tanks and produce hot water only when it is needed. That means there is little to no stand-by heat loss, which makes tankless water heaters a more energy-efficient option.

What Are the Advantages of Having a Tankless Water Heater?

There are a lot of advantages that comes with using a tankless water heater.

1. High Efficiency

As we mentioned above, the main quality of a tankless water heater is the fact that it is incredibly energy efficient. Using a standard water heater, you would lose a lot of standby heat due to that fact that it constantly heats water in storage tank. According to the Department of Energy, tankless water heaters can be 24-34 % more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters.

In addition, tankless water heaters provide water on demand, meaning you won’t have to wait long for the water from your faucet to heat up.

  • Tankless Water Heaters Last Longer

According to the Department of Energy, tankless water heaters also last longer than standard water heaters. Tankless heaters can generally last for 20 years (or even more) whereas other heaters last for 15.

  • Low Operating Costs

Tankless water heaters are more expensive than standard water heaters, but they have lower operating and energy costs. Tankless water heaters also have cheaper and more readily available replaceable parts, that can make them last longer.

But What Are the Disadvantages?

Like all appliances, tankless water heaters come with some disadvantages as well.

  1. Lower Water Flow

Since tankless water heaters provide water on demand, they tend to have a lower water flow, whereas standard water heaters have a higher water flow, since they provide hot water from their storage tanks.

  • Higher Initial Costs

Tankless water heaters are on the more expensive side compared to standard heaters because they have a higher initial cost. However, the overall savings and low operational costs might make up for this disadvantage.

Have any more questions about the advantages of a tankless water heater? Get in touch with the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us online.

7 Common Summer Plumbing Problems

Published on

As the seasons change, so does the way you use your plumbing. Summer brings a unique set of plumbing problems that are essential to prepare for and combat. The Roman Electric team has assembled this list of common summer plumbing problems that homeowners should know about. Read on to find out more.

1. Clogged Disposal

Summertime is for cookouts, grilling, block parties, and fresh summer fruits and vegetables. However, more guests in your home and more material going down the disposal could lead to big problems. Corn cobs, melon rinds, fruit stones, and meat grease will block your disposal. If you fear a backup, run cold water for a few seconds before and after using the garbage disposal.

2. Clogged Toilets

School’s out for summer, and that means your kids (and their friends) will use your home’s bathrooms for their restroom breaks. The added flushes will increase wear and tear on flappers, chains, and handles, potentially forcing you to make a repair sooner than anticipated.

3. Sprinkler Issues

In-ground sprinkler systems are especially vulnerable during summer. The increased foot traffic on your lawn threatens your sprinkler heads. A misplaced foot could crack the head and cause a leak. A leaking sprinkler is often hard to detect, because sprinkler heads are designed to spray water. But, the problem will eventually become evident on your water bill. Leaking sprinklers will increase your water usage and raise your utility bill.

4. Slow Draining Showers

Taking a trip to the beach? Be sure to rinse off before hitting the shower. Sand, dirt, and tiny bits of beach debris are common culprits of slow draining showers. However, if your shower is draining slowly, don’t reach for chemical clog removers – these only delay the problem and increase the wear on your pipes. Instead, try to snake your drain. Alternatively, call a plumber.

5. Overloaded Washing Machines

Vacations, trips to the pool, walks outside, and other outdoor activities will increase the work of your washing machine. Overuse and overloading of the machine can lead to leaks in the hose. A hose leak will not only increase your water bill, it can also flood your home! Luckily, a hose leak in a washing machine is easy to fix, you can do it yourself in about five minutes.

6. Sump Pump

If you have a basement in your home, your sump pump is an essential piece of equipment. Sump pumps keep your basement dry when rain threatens to flood it. Summer rains can be intense, and if you don’t regularly maintain your pump, it could break down. When your sump pump doesn’t work, you could be left with a significant amount of standing water in the basement.

7. Outdoor Faucet Leaks

Outdoor faucets get used frequently in the summer, be it for car washes, “slip and slides,” or other fun activities in the sun. But, once you’re inside, the outdoor faucet is out of sight, out of mind. Which means you can’t see it leaking. A leaking faucet can waste up to 90 gallons of water a day. This waste will show up as an increase in your utility bill. Make sure that your faucet is sealed tightly to the wall, and that the rubber washer is in good condition.

Have Some Common Summer Plumbing Problems? Call us today!

We hope this guide has helped make you aware of common summer plumbing problems, and how to avoid them. But, if you have a plumbing problem you can’t solve, don’t hesitate to call a professional. Roman Electric has served the greater Milwaukee area since 1929, providing expert HVAC, plumbing, and electrical solutions. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule an appointment online.

Should I Get a Tankless Water Heater?

Published on

should i get a tankless water heater

When’s the last time you really sat down and considered how much energy and water your water heater is using? If you’ve got a traditional tank unit, you’re using quite a bit. Of course, all those hot showers and warm baths are nice, but do you have more than you might need?

If you’re in the appliance-researching mood, you might’ve come across the possibility of having a tankless water heater installed. That sounds intriguing, you might think, but why should you consider switching your water heater out for one of these models? We can’t answer that for you, but the pros at Roman Electric can help you learn a little bit more about the pros and cons of a tankless water heater.

It Saves Money

This is the biggest reason why someone would probably want to switch. Perhaps you’re tired of spending too much on energy bills to heat your water every month. A traditional water heater warms up a significant amount of water, which sits in the tank until you use it.

A tankless water heater, though, only heats up water when you need it. This means you’re not spending money on hot water you may not need. You get only what your appliances call for.

However, if you do in fact need a lot of water, then this isn’t much help. You’ll run out much quicker, and the tankless water heater might not be able to keep up.

It Saves Space

Unlike a tank-unit water heater, a tankless model doesn’t require a big space carved out for it to sit in. A tankless water heater can fit in a closet, mounted on a wall, so you might not even realize it’s there most of the time.

The other side of that diminutive size is that since it’s smaller, it’s easier for things like calcium and other sediments to build up in the pipes and clog it up.

It Saves You More Over Time

Another advantage to owning a tankless water heater is how much it’ll save you in the long run, outside of energy bills. A tankless unit lasts longer than a traditional one does – some can have a shelf life more than double that of a tank unit.

However, that comes with a price, so to speak. A tankless water heater often costs several times what a tank-unit water heater does up front, so the money you save on energy bills will almost certainly take several years to cancel out the difference in installation cost.

 

Unfortunately there isn’t a clear-cut answer to whether you should get a tankless water heater or not. Everyone’s situation is different, and we can’t make a judgement call for you without taking stock of your home’s needs and specifications.

We can, however, talk with you to figure it out! Roman Electric has plenty of experience and knowledge regarding water heaters, and we’d love to speak with you to talk about what you’re looking for in a water heater.

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 today!