Worried About The Gas Water Heater Ban?

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California is known as one of the most forward thinking States in the Nation. Californians can generally be thought about as fun loving outdoorsy people who are always trying to innovate technology and change the world, here at Water Heaters Only, Inc. we believe that is certainly true.

But what happens when global warming takes away our beautiful walking and running trails or the air quality gets so bad that we cannot breathe? Cross our fingers, we will never find out because C.A.R.B. has a plan. The California State Air Research Board has decided to ban the use of gas water heaters and furnaces throughout the State of California by the year 2030 to improve air quality. 

However, Bay Area regulators are going to get to meeting the Boards needs before 2030. It is their goal to have the entire “Bay Area” (which consists of 10 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, Napa, San Mateo, Sonoma, Solano, Santa Cruz, And Santa Clara County) only installing zero emissions water heaters by 2027. This means that everyone who has a gas water heater go out after they year 2026, you will have to get either an electric or a heat pump water heater.

One important thing to note is, you can still repair your gas water heater after 2027, however, parts for gas water heaters will begin to slowly be phased out. So, in the meantime it may be a good idea to call a local water heater company to see if your home is already equipped to handle a heat pump water heater. If your home is not equipped to handle a heat pump water heater, they can begin to retrofit the area so that when the time comes, all you have to do is call Water Heaters Only, Inc. to simply pop in your new heat pump water heater. 

Want to know if your home is equipped for a heat pump? Give us a call at [phone-local]

What Is A Heat Pump Water Heater And How Do They Work?

Heat pump are the hottest topic in the world of water heaters. This is because they are the most energy efficient type of water heater available on the market. Not only are they going to save you money because they burn less energy, but they are going to play a huge role in saving the planet from global warming!

These water heaters operate much like your standard gas or electric water heater except for a few extra parts. Such as an evaporator, condenser, and compressor.

These water heaters operate by pumping in the ambient air that is in the room that the water heater is stored in into an evaporator which contains what is called condenser fluid. The evaporator removes the heat from the air and sends it into the fluid. Once the fluid has been warmed, it flows to a condenser where it is pressurized, as more and more pressure gets accumulated, the more the temperature rises. From here the fluid is then taken to a high pressure heat exchanger that is placed inside the tank of the water heater where the water is stored. The heated fluid cycles through this process until the water has reached the desired temperature. 

Do You Have Heat Pump Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns about the gas water heater ban and want to know if you home is ready for a heat pump or an electric water heater, give us a call at [phone-local]. A member of our team will be able to answer your questions and schedule  a water heater technician to come out to your home and let you know what needs to be done in your home to prepare you for the changes that are coming to your water heater. 

Water Heater Codes In Murrieta, CA.

A home’s plumbing system is not complete without a water heater, which provides hot water for many uses like bathing, cleaning, and cooking. To maintain the safety and effectiveness of your water heater in Murrieta, California, the installation of water heaters must adhere to the applicable construction norms and standards established by local and state organizations. On this page we’ll talk about the significance of plumbing codes, and heat pump water heaters in Murrieta, California.

The California Plumbing Code (CPC) establishes the requirements for the installation, use, and upkeep of water heaters not only in Murrieta but throughout the entire State of California. The City of Murrieta also establishes rules for the seismic strapping, temperature and pressure relief valves, combustion air, venting, insulation and gas piping systems on all water heater installations. The City of Murrieta cannot remove anything from the C.P.C. however they can add things to make the water heater installations even more safe and streamlined.

It is always good to do extensive research on the local plumbing codes, because as you go from city to city, the plumbing code requirements may change. 

Example of codes from the 2022 California Plumbing Code manual

 504.1 Location

Water heater installations in bedrooms and bathrooms shall comply with the following. 

1. “Water heaters shall be of the direct vent type”

IV. COMBUSTION AIR Combustion air shall be provided for fuel-burning water heaters with indoor or outdoor combustion air as follows:

 A. Water heaters in enclosures shall be provided with properly sized combustion air openings located within the upper and lower 12 inches of the enclosure. 

B. Garages that serve as enclosures shall be provided with openings to the exterior. 

Heat Pump Water Heaters In Murrieta, CA.

It is even more so imperative that the heat pump water heaters stick to this code because they are more complex and energy efficient than the standard tank water heater. These new water heaters employ heat pump technology by transferring heat from the ambient air using coils and refrigerant working in the opposite manner of a refrigerator. Meaning that the heat is absorbed into the refrigerant filled coils that wrap around the tank of the water heater where the water is stored.

Heat pump water heaters require less energy to heat the water than conventional storage water heaters, making them the most green option available, but in order for them to operate properly they must be installed according to code.

In summary, all water heater installations in Murrieta, California, must adhere to all building laws and regulations established by regional and statewide organizations and agencies that are applicable, including the California Plumbing Code, and local City Codes. 

Even the newest and most energy efficient heat pump water heaters must be installed in accordance with these policies. It is highly advised that you contact a licensed and insured water heater installation company to come to your home for any and all work on your water heater. 

If you are in need of a water heater professional, call Water Heaters Only, Inc. In Murrieta, CA. at [phone-local]

Helpful Water Heater Code References

• City Of Murrieta Water Heater Codes
• State Of California Plumbing Codes (CPC Page 130)

Vampire Water Heaters, The Worst Kind of Water Heater…

Be careful this Halloween season because you might have a scary old beast lurking in your household and not even be aware of it. Read closely and be on the lookout for these signs:

• Is your energy bill slowly creepy higher?
• Do you hear loud scary bangs in your home?
• Do you sometimes have lukewarm showers?

Then your lovable household water heater might have turned into a Vampire Water Heater!

Do not be afraid because the professionals at Water Heaters Only, Inc are here to explain and help!

What Causes A Vampire Water Heater?

This tends to happen to mostly older water heaters as this transformation can happen over a very long period of time. The cause of a Vampire Water Heater is typically when the sediment in the water starts to slowly build up calcium deposits along the base of the inner tank as water travels through the storage tank. When this happens, your water heater has to work twice as hard to heat water for your use. This is because first, it has to heat up that built-up sediment before it can heat up the water.

This sediment build up can go unnoticed for a while but what may not go unnoticed is the loud popping noise that will come from your water heater while it is in operation. This is due to the sediment in the bottom of your tank actually trapping water under or inside the sediment in the water heater. When this happens, the rapidly-heating water starts to crack and pop through the sediment making extremely loud popping noises. There is not much that can be done to stop this from happening to old water heaters, though flushing your water heater annually can help.

Can An Electric Water Heater Be A Vampire Too?

Yes! If you happen to have an electric water heater, the sediment can build up on the heating elements inside the tank.

When you begin to hear this popping sound, it is a good indication that it may be time to get your water heater replaced. If you let this vampire stay in your home, you will start to notice as the vampire water heater is operating that it has to run longer, thus turning it into an energy sucker.

If your water heater takes longer to heat, it can drive up your energy bill!

If you are interested in reading more on this topic / issue about common water heater problems, we have provided a few links to trustworthy sources explaining the topics discussed in further detail. 

Also, you can also read a very educational piece provided by National Geographic on how sediment works. Lastly here’s a link on how to flush sediment out of your water heater provided by Bradford White (one of our preferred brands of water heaters).

This vampire water heater’s operation will be adding to your energy bill daily, so take our advice and don’t let this money sucker into your home! Call Water Heaters Only, Inc  to talk to a specialist about a water heater replacement today! Phones are answered 24/7/365, call [phone-local].

Water Conservation

Summer is approaching and California could be expecting yet another dry summer. With this past winter being one of the driest we have had in some time, we should definitely take a look at some ways we can conserve water. In today’s world we turn on a faucet and water comes out; and we don’t really think about how much water we consume until we see the utility bill (AHHH!) or there is a major drought.  In those cases we try to cut back on water but we are not always successful, so in this article we are going to talk about how you personally can save water by being more conscious and how you can even receive a rebate for switching over to more green products such as your washing machine, water heater and many other appliances in your home that could even save you monthly on your utility bills. 

Method Number 1: Is Your Faucet Running?

The first way to save water is the method that your school teachers and magazines have been telling us about since we were young; not leaving the faucet running while brushing our teeth. There is a lot of truth to this method, when your bathroom sink is running it flows at a pace of roughly 2 gallons per minute. 

• Leaving the faucet on for 2 minutes of teeth brushing twice a day will cause you to lose around 1,500 gallons of water annually 
• A family of 4 would lose around 6,000 Gallons of water every year. 

So…if not running the faucet while we brush our teeth is one of the most popular ways to save water, what are some other ways we can save water?

Method Number 2: Boosting Your Toilets Efficiency.

Our toilets don’t use that much water right?

Actually they can.

• Older toilets could use up to 7 gallons per flush. 
• Newer toilets use as little as 1.6 gallons

Needless to say if you are able to replace your old toilet with a high efficiency or “Low Flow” toilet you should. This new toilet would save you 12,775 gallons of water annually. 

Though of course it is not in the cards for everyone to just go and replace their toilet, so we had found this quick and easy water saving hack that displaces water so you can use less water per flush. 

How to save water when flushing:

Supplies

• Water Bottle (we used a 64 ounce bottle)
• Sand or something heavy to weigh it down. 
• Water

Once you have all of your supplies, place the sand or heavy objects inside of the water bottle, fill the 2 liter bottle with water and secure the lid. 

Place the large bottle of water inside of the toilet tank away from the moving parts of the lavatory and voila.

You are now saving water

This displaces the existing water, so less water is needed to fill the tank. This could save a family of 4 around 3,000 gallons of water a year. Test this option out and make sure it works for your type of toilet and for your home.

 Method Number 3: Be Mindful While Watering

Finally another good tip for saving water is by hand watering and xeriscaping. By hand watering and not using sprinklers you can direct your stream of water on to the plants. By doing this you are able to use less water because your stream is pointed directly on your plant and nothing is getting unnecessarily watered. 

Also by having a garden that is xeriscaped will greatly reduce the amount of water needed to keep the plants alive. Xeriscaping is a style of landscape design that uses little or no water. You can look at ways to begin to xeriscape your yard here; this article goes through all the basics you need to know about getting your yard more water friendly. Here is a website with a list of drought resistant plants. 

These are some of our favorite hardy plants

• Yucca
• Lavender
• Daylilies 

Method Number 4: Water Saving Appliances

One of the final things you can do to save water in your home is to get water friendly appliances for your home. Nearly all of the most popular brands have energy star rated (Energy star approved products are more energy efficient but don’t necessarily save water) products such as: 

• Maytag
• Whirlpool 
• Samsung. 

These newer high efficiency water heaters will definitely save you tons of water considering that the old washing machines use between 30 and 45 gallons to do a single load of laundry, a new high efficiency clothes washer will use somewhere between 15 and 30 gallons and the super high efficiency washing machine will use less than 5 gallons of water. These washing machines generally run between $600 and $1,600 and will generally pay for themselves in water and energy savings after 6.5 years. Yes, that may seem like a long time but the average washing machine will last around 10-14 years so once it has paid for itself it could save you the cost of your next washing machine! 

 Method Number 5: Recirculation Pumps

Recirculation pumps provide a constant flow of hot water, they make it so that hot water is always circulating through your home so the wait for hot water is cut nearly in half, saving you about 10,000 gallons of water a year! Wouldn’t that be nice! 

So there we have it, a list of ways to save you water this year! We hope that this helps. If you suspect that a leaking water heater is costing you extra money this year, give us a call at [phone-local] and we will be happy to come out and take a look at your water heater. While we are at it, ask us about our recirculation pumps! We hope that this post helps and please ask us questions about our recirculation pumps, we are happy to help!

Speak To A Canoga Park Water Heater Expert At

[phone-canoga-park]

Water Heaters Only, Inc. has been proudly providing Canoga Park hot water heater repair and replacement since 1968, so we couldn’t be happier to announce our brand new Canoga Park branch! Located at 7215 Owensmouth Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91303, our newest branch location will help us to continue offering quick, affordable water heater service throughout the Canoga Park area and beyond.

With phones being answered 24/7, you can be sure that someone will be there to help when you call no matter what time of day or night. If you have ever needed someone to come and look at your water heater on the weekend, you know that some companies like to charge an “Emergency Service” fee for weekend service, but at Water Heaters Only, Inc. we are available to come and service your water heater seven days a week with no extra charge for the weekends or holidays! So give us a call at [phone-canoga-park] and let one of our helpful staff set up an appointment or just answer any questions you may have about your water heater.

What We Service In Canoga Park

Traditional Tank Water Heaters

Tankless Water Heaters 

Commercial Water Heaters 

2021 Annual Water Heater Flush

Talk To A Pro Now About Flushing Your Water Heater! [phone-local]

This is your annual reminder that it’s time to flush your water heater! Doing this simple maintenance can help prolong the life of your tank.
For your convenience, we’ve included our easy do-it-yourself instructions for flushing your tank. If you have any questions or would like one of our technicians to walk you through it, please feel free to contact us at 833-379-8800.

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more helpful tips!

Refer-A-Friend

We’ve also included a $50.00 REFER-A-FRIEND Coupon should you be interested in referring us to friends or family. Please see the following link for a Refer-A-Friend Coupon and feel free to like us on Facebook!

Share Your Experience!

If you had an awesome experience with us, please leave us a review! Or if you want to see what our past customers have to say about us, click HERE to read our reviews.

 

How To Make American Sign Language “I Love You” Hands

If you are looking for a fun way to spend time with the little ones in your life, then look no further! Our very own Christina J has brought in her little helper to make some crafts for their valentines! For this craft we are going to be making American Sign Language (A.S.L.) “I Love You” Hands!

Do you love hot water? Well we can get your hot water running! Give us a call at 833-379-8800

Water Heater Repair Vs. Replacement

Do you need a repair or a replacement? Call our experts 24/7/365 at 833-379-8800

One of the questions we get on a regular basis when we are onsite for a water heater repair concerns whether we will be repairing the water heater or if it will need replacing. However, it’s not so simple since we need to look at a number of factors before we can decide what may need to be done. First, we need to know a little bit about the backstory of the water heater including: How old is the water heater; what condition the water heater is in and what is the current issue that you’re having with the water heater?

There are exceptions, but generally if a storage-type water heater is over 10 years old, regardless of what the problem may be, we will most likely recommend replacement. Modern water heaters typically last around 8-10 years depending on the usage and water quality. So anything over 10 years old will likely find us recommending replacing the water heater as opposed to throwing money at a water heater that may not last much longer. On a side note, there are certain water heater brands we may recommend replacing when the tank is less than 10 years of age. This is often due to either manufacturer’s defects or the tanks being recalled.

One of the reasons that water heaters fail within ten years has to do with the anode rod, which is inside every gas storage-type water heater suspended within the tank. This also known as a sacrificial anode rod and is designed to attract the corrosive minerals in the water. This helps to prevent the corrosive minerals from eating away at the tank itself. However, these minerals will literally eat away at the anode rod until it’s completely dissolved. When the anode rod is gone, the minerals begin corroding the tank itself and this will eventually cause it to leak. These anode rods typically last about 4 to 6 years and there was a time when you could replace the anode rod fairly easily to extend the life of the water heater. Now, however, they are factory sealed by the manufacturer, thus making it harder to extend the life of your water heater.

So now let’s go over two scenarios that we see that will help you understand how we decide whether to repair or replace a water heater:

Scenario 1: THE WATER HEATER IS LEAKING

The first thing we’ll try to determine is where the leak is originating. Is it coming from the top or the bottom of the water heater? If there’s water below the water heater but no signs of moisture above the water heater, the tank itself is most likely leaking and will likely need to be replaced. If you are able to determine the water is originating above or on top of the water heater, it may be a plumbing leak or one of the peripheral components leaking and that may be repairable. Any leaks should be addressed immediately regardless of the severity of the leak. Once a leak starts, there is no telling how long it will take to go from a minor leak to a major leak and begin causing damage.

Scenario 2: THE WATER HEATER IS NOT PRODUCING ANY HOT WATER

This may be a repairable situation so long as the tank is in good condition and not too old. This tells us at least one of the components has failed or is about to fail. It might be the pilot assembly, the gas control, burner assembly, one of the safety components, or a clogged air intake screen. All of these may be repairable situations.

Bottom line for most situations: If we can determine the tank itself is leaking, it will probably need to be replaced. If there’s a leak originating anywhere other than the tank itself, it may be repairable. If the water heater is not producing hot water, is in good condition and not too old, it may be repairable as well.

If you have any questions about the information in this blog or you have a question about your water heater in general, just call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 833-379-8800. You can also learn more about your water heater and how to spot any potential problems – and even learn some basic maintenance – by looking at our Common Problems section at the bottom of our website. There are a lot of instructional blogs and videos covering a whole host of issues and concerns. We even have a video helping you to figure out the age of your water heater, which can give you a good idea about whether it can be repaired or should be replaced (you can watch it by clicking here).  If it’s a water heater issue, we have seen it and we believe that the more people know about using and maintaining their water heater, the better off they are.

Fun Holiday Crafts!

Join Christina and Frederick in a few holiday crafts. We look forward to bringing you more kids from W.H.O. content soon within this up coming year!

How To Make A Hand Print Santa Clause.

How To Make Christmas Bows

How To Make Bird Seed Ornaments