Common Causes Why Your Tankless Hot Water Heater Is Leaking
April 26, 2022 Leaks, Water Heaters No comments yet
Leone Plumbing Tankless Water Heater InstallationA tankless water heater is the best choice when it comes to energy efficiency. If you compare it with tank-style water heaters, it will only spend energy when a hot water tap is turned on or if there is an appliance being used. Since it doesn’t come with a tank, most homeowners believe that a tankless water heater doesn’t leak. However, a tankless water heater can still be susceptible to leaks. Proper care and maintenance still play an important role in the longevity of this appliance.

What causes a tankless water heater to leak and how can we deal with it?

Contrary to what everyone thought that a tankless water heater is leak-free, this appliance can begin to leak after years of use. Here are the common causes of leaks on tankless water heaters.
Improper Venting
If not properly vented, condensation can cause leaks on your water heater. It is best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions before installing the appliance. The boiler should have proper venting through its roof or wall.
High Water Pressure and Flow Rates
For optimal performance, a tankless water heater requires low flow rates at 5 GPM and pressure at 30 PSI. If it goes beyond the allowed pressure and flow rates, it may cause leaks. Always monitor the pressure and flow rates and ensure that the required numbers are maintained.
Pipe Connections
Most tankless heaters are equipped with a relief valve, but some are not. Without a relief valve, there will be a build-up of pressure in the pipe joints which can cause leaks. Make sure that your water heater has a relief valve. Otherwise, our licensed plumbers can help you find and install a relief valve that will fit your heater. Tankless Water Heater Relief Valve Water Heater Install by Leone Plumbing
Hard Water
Particles such as calcium, lime, and other minerals are present in hard water. Over time, they build up like sediment that can affect the heat exchanger which will overheat the appliance and will cause leaks as well. Regular descaling can minimize and prevent sediment build-up on your tankless heater.
Acidic Water
Corroding pipes are a leading cause of leaks on tankless heaters. Acidic water can corrode pipes and creates a pinhole that grows over time. To prevent the risk, acidic water has to be monitored and neutralized.
Insufficient Gas Pipes
You need to ensure that the gas pipes have enough room to supply the necessary amount of gas demanded by the water heater. If not, leaks from gas pipes can bring a serious problem to your home! To prevent gas problems, it is recommended to have a separate line that runs from the meter to the heater without rerouting the gas main.

You Can Combat Leaks On Your Tankless Heater

Knowing the causes of leaks on a tankless heater can help you maintain your appliance so you can use it for a long time. If you need help or if you have concerns with your tankless heater, we are here for you! Contact us anytime.
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Hot Water Heater Issues To Watch Out For During The Winter
December 28, 2021 Water Heaters No comments yet
  Installed Hot Water Heater By Leone Plumbing It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Can you feel it? Having a steamy shower over a cold icy day beats the chill that the winter season brings. Your best friend is a hot water heater providing the exact warmth that you need. But like any appliance during the winter, it can be vulnerable to issues brought about by the cold weather. In this article, we will talk about the steps to prevent water heater issues from occurring this winter.

The Effect Of Cold Weather On Your Hot Water Heater

During winter, the water coming into your home can get up to 25 degrees colder. The colder the water comes in, the greater the effort that is needed by your water heater. Because of the heavy workload, your water heater may encounter problems in the process. Here are the common water heater issues to watch out for.
Temperature
The temperature of your water heater should not rise beyond 120 degrees. If the temperature goes higher, it will cause the electrodes to break and scales fall into the water. This will cause the water to become more acidic and deteriorates the anodes protecting the walls of your water heater.
Insufficient Insulation
The holiday season can be very busy that you may overlook insulating your water heater. Just like your pipes that need insulation from the cold, your water heater also needs to be insulated. Insulating your hot water heater is important since its efficiency to produce hot water decreases during the winter season.
Malfunctioning Parts
During the cold season, parts of the water heater could malfunction. If you own a gas water heater, you need to keep an eye on the pilot light, thermocouple, and pilot control valve. If you have an electric water heater, inspect the thermostat and heating components.
Build Up Of Sediments
Those sediments building up on the bottom of water heaters can sip the heat out of the produced hot water. If this happens, your water heater will consume more energy and it can break due to over-usage.

Steps To Prevent Hot Water Heater Issues

There are simple steps to take to guard your hot water heater from the effects of cold weather. Here are the tips that you need to keep in mind.
Insulate Your Water Heater
Insulate your electric water heater with neoprene foam. For gas water heaters, you may use aluminum foil tape or fiberglass wrap.
Flush Your Water Heater Regularly
Regularly flushing your water heater can remove all the accumulated sediments and minerals that suck the heat out of the warm water.
Replace Parts If Needed
It is best to consult a licensed plumber to inspect your water heater. They will be able to assess if there are parts that need replacement such as the thermocouple and anodes.

Enjoy The Warmth Of Warm Water This Winter

Keep your home warm this winter season. Let us help you keep your hot water heater working. Call us anytime if you need help.
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Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement Made Easy
August 9, 2021 Water Heaters No comments yet
water heater thermocouple replacement service by leone plumbing Your water heater is one of your house appliances that serve a lot of benefits for your home. It gives hot water needed for your hot drinks, showers, baths, laundry, and dishes. Every part of it is important especially the water heater thermocouple. But what if it suddenly dysfunctions and needs replacement? Can you replace it by yourself? If you can’t, let us tell you how. Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement by Leone Plumbing

What does a water heater thermocouple do?

Before you perform water heater thermocouple replacement, you need to know what a water heater thermocouple does. It is one of the important parts of your water heater. This part transforms heat from a flame into a minimal electric current. It works like a switch to regulate gas flow from the gas supply valve.

The 5 Easy Steps For Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement

Now that you know what a water heater thermocouple does, it’s time to get your hands working. Here are the easy steps for water heater thermocouple replacement.

1. Turn off your gas supply.

For your safety, make sure that the gas control valve is turned off before you start.

2. Remove the burner access covers.

Normally, the burner just slides out since it sits loosely. You first need to detach the nuts that are holding the thermocouple and the two tubes to the valve.

3. Detach the thermocouple.

The thermocouple is typically snapped into place to the pilot gas supply with one or more clips. The end of it is inserted within the pilot assembly which you can pull out easily. Be reminded of how the old thermocouple is placed (take pictures) since this is important for step number 4.
Note: Make sure that you got the correct part for your water heater thermocouple replacement. Bring along with you the detached thermocouple when you buy one at a hardware store.

4. Install the new thermocouple.

You need to make sure that you install the thermocouple the same way as how the old one was placed. To test, turn on the control valve. Your water heater should be back working.

5. Turn the gas back on.

Please follow the water heater lighting instructions once the gas is turned on. Watch out for gas leaks! You can check by putting soapy water into joints. If you see bubbles while the main burner is firing, it means gas is leaking.

Do you still need help?

If you encounter something odd on your water heater such as gas leaks, we are here to help. Reach out to us anytime!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Photo Credit: Edited in Canva, Photo by Charlotte May from Pexels
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AO Smith Hot Water Heater Proper Care And Maintenance
May 17, 2021 Water Heaters No comments yet
  AO Smith Hot Water Heater Proper Care And Maintenance Water heaters are one of the important appliances in your home that you need to maintain. As a certified AO Smith Hot Water Heater technician, we know very well how to maintain the unit. If you own an AO Smith Hot Water Heater or planning to have one, this article will help you how to maintain the unit safely on your own.

Maintaining your AO Smith Hot Water Heater

You can do the unit maintenance by yourself. But before you get your hands working, make sure that you turn off the unit before touching it. In your home’s breaker box, switch off the circuit breaker for the water heater first. After you have turned off the unit, you are good to go. Maintaining your AO Smith Hot Water Heater can be performed with these easy steps.
Check the temperature and pressure relief valve.
This should be done once a year. Annually test the temperature-pressure relief valve by discharging it quickly at least three times. While doing this, keep an eye for small leaks from the valve. If you see any drips, you need to repair the leaks or tighten the connections.
Watch out for leaks.
One of the culprits of water heater leaks is high water pressure or thermal expansion. You can control water pressure by installing a thermal expansion tank. To monitor the water pressure, you will need a water pressure gauge attached to the water heater drain valve or an outside faucet. If you find the water pressure reaches above 80 PSI, we recommend installing a pressure-reducing valve. We recommend setting the home’s water pressure to 50-60 PSI. Higher water pressure can damage your water heater and your plumbing system. Also, check the water heater flue pipe for any leaks that could result in carbon monoxide leaks. Inspection for leaks should be done every month. Do immediate repair if you find any leaks.
Check the anode rod.
This aluminum or magnesium rod should be checked from time to time and needs to be replaced if worn out. The anode rod helps in protecting the tank from leaks. To remove the anode rod, follow the instructions in your owner’s manual. You will know that you need to replace the rod if it looks slightly “chewed up” or most of the metal is gone.
Drain and Flush
Drain and flush the tank at least once a year. The first thing to do is you need to connect a garden hose to the drain valve and place the other end on a drain or outside. Using a screwdriver, open the drain valve and drain a few gallons of water. If the water looks cloudy, drain the tank until the water is clear.

Additional Maintenance and Safety Tips

Aside from routine maintenance, make sure that your water heater is not near any flammable materials such as gasoline, paint, and chemicals. Remove any combustible materials close by the unit to avoid incidents of fire. If you need urgent maintenance assistance, please feel free to contact us.
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Rinnai Tankless Water Heater: The Pros and Cons
March 31, 2021 HVAC, Water Heaters No comments yet
Rinnai Tankless Water Heater Installation by Leone Plumbing

Rinnai tankless water heater installed by Leone Plumbing and Heating.

Tankless water heaters are growing popular with homeowners. Many homes are enjoying the advantage of going tankless. With the growing demand for tankless water heaters, we are picky in choosing the right unit for our installation service. One of the products that we highly recommend is the Rinnai tankless water heater.

Why Choose Rinnai Tankless Water Heater?

In your everyday domestic activities, there will be many instances in which you need hot water to get something done. You may need hot water every time you wash clothes, shower, bathing, doing dishes, and many others. Hot water can be highly on-demand in your home,  and you need a heavy-duty water heater. Rinnai tankless water heater has all the elements that a heavy-duty unit must have – available hot water on demand, durable, and energy-efficient.

The Pros and Cons of  Rinnai Tankless Water Heater

While we highly recommend Rinnai tankless water heater, there is no perfect product. Though we receive generally good points from this product, there are pros and cons too.

Pros:

Energy Saving
Rinnai tankless water heater only operates during the time you need it. That means less energy consumption. The traditional water heater, however, heats the water to a certain degree and stores the water in there (whether you need it or not). It will consume more energy to maintain the temperature throughout the day – which will translate to high energy bills. With a tankless water heater, you will save up to 50% of energy consumption.
Hot Water On Demand
It will take you several minutes to get hot water from a regular tank heater. But with a Rinnai tankless unit, hot water is available in seconds. The perk of having a tankless system is it provides a constant flow of hot water for as long as your household needs it.
Space-Saving
A tankless water heater is ideal for a home that wants enough space for other things. Rinnai tankless units don’t have large holding tanks so they can fit in any small spaces.
It Can Last Longer
Compared to a regular tank heater that can last for 10 years, Rinnai tankless units have a longer lifespan of about 20 years! That is how durable it is.

Cons:

Higher Purchase Cost
Rinnai tankless water heaters are costly to purchase and install compared to conventional heaters. Though the upfront cost is larger, it will save you money on energy bills throughout the year.
Large Units For Big Families
A small unit may not be able to keep up the demand of a household all at once. If you have a big family which uses the unit at the same time, you will need a large Rinnai tankless unit which costs more.

Go Tankless!

It is a wise investment to have a Rinnai tankless unit at home. If you want to go tankless or get your current unit serviced, we are always available for you! Talk to us today to find out more.  
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Dual Tanks & Tankless Water Heater Systems
June 6, 2018 Water Heaters No comments yet
Why would someone install a dual water heater system in their home? A couple of reasons! A common one is that it’s a large family household and multiple people are using hot water for various reasons and in large amounts, such as multiple showers and bathrooms. Another is that they have a whirlpool bathtub that requires many gallons of water. Most whirlpools start at 65-gallons while most houses only have a standard 40-gallon tank installed. One solution is to have a 2nd 40 or 50-gallon tank installed alongside the first. Leone Plumbing has installed these for their customers using a custom built manifold system to link the two together. This has a few benefits.
  • There are 4 separate shut offs to isolate either of the water heaters in case one breaks down or starts leaking, giving the homeowner time to call their service provider to make necessary repairs or replacement
  • If one breaks down, the homeowner will still have hot water by simple turning off the quick shut off valve we install on each tank
  • If the family size is reduced, then homeowner can simply turn off one of the water heaters and operate off the other
  • At Peak demand, the homeowner will have 80 to 100 gallons of water (doubling the amount of which one can provide)
On-Demand Water Heater Systems provide a different solution for families with the same issues as those that might consider dual water heaters. However, some additional reasons to choose an On-Demand are:
  • To provide hot water to a hot tub or bathroom located outside the home so the hot water provided inside will not be reduced
  • To boost dishwashers and/or washing machines
  • To provide additional support for solar water heating systems
  • Higher efficiency than standard water heater tanks over the lifetime of the unit
The main difference between the On-Demand and Dual Tank systems is that the On-Demand does not have a storage tank that holds the hot water. Instead, cold water runs through the pipes and is heated up, as needed, by either a gas burner or electric elements. This provides an endless supply of hot water for the household.
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