Wishing Your Hot Water Heater Was More Efficient? It May Be Hard Water

Wishing Your Hot Water Heater Was More Efficient? It May Be Hard Water

Wishing Your Hot Water Heater Was More Efficient? It May Be Hard Water“If you have noticed that your hot water heater is not quite working as efficiently as you’d like then you are likely wondering what the problem is. The truth is that there are many potential issues. You may need to have your hot water heater replaced.

You may need to have it repaired. Or it may be as simple as your hot water heater suffering from hard water buildup. To be sure, reach out to Econo West Heating Air & Plumbing and work with an experienced water heater company. In the meantime, you can also read on to learn more about how hot water may be the culprit.

What is hard water and what should I do about it?

First, you should understand what hard water is and how it can affect a water heater. It is the same water that goes through all your pipes – you bathe in it, wash in it, and drink it. The difference is that hard water has minerals whereas non-hard water has a much lower mineral content.

If you have hard water, then your water has more dissolved calcium and magnesium than average. There is typically no health issue with drinking this water (in fact, in the right dosage it can actually have health benefits) but the issue is that hard water can impact appliances and plumbing systems because those extra minerals can stick around and leave a filmy buildup inside your hot water heater.

How does hard water affect how efficient my water heater is?

If you do have hard water sitting in your hot water heater and the minerals build on the sides, they can eventually settle at the bottom of your tank. This residue, which is referred to as limescale, makes the hot water heater work even harder to get the water hot. This buildup works against the efficient transfer of heat from the heating element to the water in the tank.

The harder you water is the more energy it is going to use. This can result in much higher electric bills than you would pay if you did not have hard water. It can also cause your unit to not last for as many years as it should.

What can I do if I have hard water?

If you have a limescale problem then there are two main options. First, you can treat the water. A whole-home water softener can get rid of your hard water problem and prevent it from affecting your hot water heater in the future.

That said, if you have had hard water for years then you are still going to want to get the limescale cleaned out of your tank or have the tank removed. You should call on a professional to come out, drain your tank, and assess the damage. When you reach out to Econo West Heating Air & Plumbing at (661) 947-2653, you can count on our honest advice on the best way to proceed.”

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