Energy-Efficient Water Heater Services by Award-Winning Maryland Plumbers
A residential water heater provides one basic, but essential service—they heat water! In the Baltimore–Annapolis metropolitan area the average life of a heater tank is 11 years. When the tank begins to leak the water heater must be replaced. Until then parts on the tank can be replaced. But just because your tank is not leaking does not mean you shouldn’t replace it.
Water heaters today are much more energy-efficient than their predecessors. Not only that, but over the life of the heater it gradually declines in efficiency. An energy-inefficient heater could be costing you more to keep than a new energy-efficient heater costs to install and operate.
Since 1991, the expert plumbers at Alpha Plumbing have provided residential water heater services to clients throughout central Maryland, including Odenton, Severna Park, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, Arnold, Catonsville, Crofton, Millersville, Pasadena, and Baltimore. Over the course of our 30 years in the business, we’ve built a reputation as one of Maryland’s most highly-rated plumbing companies that is capable of handling any job, no matter how large or small.
For many years in a row, we’ve won the Angi Super Service Award, and our rating with the BBB is A+, so you can trust that we’ll treat your project with care and finesse. When you need water heater services in Maryland, trust the experts at Alpha Plumbing!
If you’re shopping for a new heater, Alpha Plumbing can help. Here are some things to consider:
Residential heaters come in many brands and models, but they can be categorized into the following types: Electric, Hybrid, Natural Gas and propane, Tankless, and Solar. Alpha Plumbing generally supplies and installs State heaters (A brand of AO Smith). State water heaters are readily available at our supplier and we’ve found them to be very reliable. Additionally, the manufacturer stands behind their product. That said, if you have a particular water heater that you want or have acquired we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Need help selecting the right water heater for your home? Try this: Residential Water Heater Selector Tool
Electric Residential Water Heater
Electric residential water heaters typically come in 30, 40, 50, 65*, and 80* gallon nominal sizes and generally require a 240-volt electrical circuit. Most make use of two heating elements which are each controlled by an individual thermostat. When the water heater begins to heat the water, first the upper element comes on and when it reaches the set temperature the thermostat turns that element off and then the lower thermostat triggers the lower element to heat the remaining water. They never heat at the same time. The water heater also has a dip tube that allows cold water to enter from the bottom of the water heater and not cool the hot water in the top of the tank as it enters.
* 65- and 80-gallon electric water heater sizes are no longer available as of April 16, 2015, in order to comply with NAECA III guidelines.
Electric Heat Pump (Hybrid) Residential Water Heater
A new, more energy-efficient type of electric water heater is a heat pump or hybrid water heater. These water heaters use their heat pump to heat the water at a lower operating cost. They also make use of standard electric elements when necessary. Because the heat pump water heater draws energy from the ambient air, in order to function efficiently they require either a 750 cubic feet space or a 128 cubic feet space and the addition of a duct kit. Heat pump water heaters are available in 50, 65 and 80 gallon sizes and generally cost about three times more than their conventional electric water heater counterparts. There may be tax and energy company credits available.
Gas Residential Water Heater
Residential natural gas water heaters and propane residential water heaters come in 30, 40, 50, and 75 gallon nominal sizes. The difference between these and the electric models is the gas burner at the bottom of the tank in lieu of electric elements. Gas water heaters also need a way to vent the exhaust fumes from your home. The most common method is to use an atmospheric vent making use of galvanized piping that connects to a chimney. Another method is to use a power vent water heater and PVC pipe to vent the gases typically through an outside wall. Still, another method is to use a direct vent water heater that uses concentric vents to both bring fresh air in and allow exhaust gases to be expelled.
High-Efficiency Gas Residential Water Heater
High-efficiency gas water heaters provide additional energy-efficiency primarily by modifying the internal flue design which provides a greater heat transfer surface.
Tankless Residential Water Heater
Electric tankless water heaters are designed according to the amount of hot water required at peak use times. The water heater has a series of heating elements that are activated based on the demand. As water demand increases more elements are activated. This is different from an electric tank water heater where the elements are never on at the same time. As a result, the electric tankless water heater requires a 240 Volt circuit for each element in the water heater so an electrician will also need to be involved in the project.
Gas tankless water heaters operate by heating the water as it passes through the natural gas or propane heat exchanger.
Solar Residential Water Heater
Solar water heaters use the heat of the sun to heat water. We do not install solar water heaters.
Call us today at 410‐255‐5998 or request service online!