Heating water in your Racine, WI, home is a costly proposition.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), water heating accounts for 20 percent of your home’s energy use. Purchasing the right water heater—and keeping it maintained—can make a significant difference in your energy bills.
At First Call Heating & Cooling, we always recommend the best water heater products for your Wisconsin home. We believe comfort and cost savings should always go hand in hand.
Storage Tank Water Heaters
Traditional storage tank water heaters are the most affordable and popular tanks on the market. They resemble a large metal barrel. The water enters through the main water supply pipe. The tank then heats the water and keeps it at the desired temperature, using natural gas, propane, oil, electricity, or solar for fuel.
Storage tank water heaters typically last 10 to 15 years. The tank can hold 20 to 80 gallons of water at a time. Insulated models keep the water hot longer, helping you save on utilities. These systems are reliable, affordable, and relatively easy to install.
The downside? Tank water heaters continuously heat the water, even when nobody is using hot water, driving up your water bills.
Tankless Water Heaters
A tankless water heater only heats water when you turn on the faucet. The difference can save you hundreds of dollars each year in heating bills.
Tankless models also use up less space. Instead of trying to fit a storage tank that might hold up to 80 gallons of water in a utility room, a tankless system is a relatively small metal box that mounts to your wall.
Rather than storing heated water, a tankless water heater heats cold water on demand—whenever you turn on a faucet. No more waiting for your water to heat up.
There's no tank without the need to store gallons of water, making the tankless heater much more compact. Nor do you have to worry about coming home to a giant pool of water in your basement from a leaking water tank.
With this type of on-demand process, energy efficiency is high. You are only using energy to heat the water precisely when you need it, so this keeps your energy costs low by conserving water. You will more than make up the initial cost of your tankless model in energy savings over the long haul.
How Does a Tankless System Work?
Whenever you turn on the faucet or start your dishwasher, water passes by a heating element (either gas or electric) in the tankless unit and heats it. No water is stored waiting for you to use it. This is on-demand hot water.
Tankless water heaters have several advantages over standard water heaters. They’re much more efficient than storage tanks since they heat water only when needed. Plus they have a longer service life: a well-maintained tankless heat can last 20 years or longer.
They also have a much smaller footprint. You can mount a tankless version just about anywhere in your home, whether in a closet or a corner of your basement.
Tank Versus Tankless
A tankless system costs more up-front to install than a tank water heater, but you’ll save money over time through lower energy bills. The life expectancy for a tankless model is 20 years or more, while a storage tank model will typically last 10 to 15 years.
Not only do tankless models use less space, but there is no fear of water leaking out and flooding an area of your home.
Tankless models have a limited flow rate, meaning they might struggle with multiple uses. If one person is showering, another doing laundry, and a third person doing dishes—all at the same time—a tankless heater might not be able to keep up.
Your solution? Install a secondary point-of-use tankless heater for one part of your Racine, WI, home, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. First Call Heating & Cooling can help you decide the best solution for your home.
Water Heater Installation and Replacement
Are you ready to replace your water heater? Our plumbing professionals at First Call Heating & Cooling install, replace, repair, and maintain all major water heater brands.
Every home is different. Before performing any replacement, we take a detailed inventory of your water system and make calculations to ensure we find a product that’s right for you. Converting to a newer model might be an upgrade, but it wouldn’t feel like one with an undersized heater.
We offer flexible financing options to help you create your dream home. Our forms are easy to fill out, and you can expect a quick response.
Work with a team that never takes shortcuts with your next water heater. Call us today for a free consultation.
Water Heater Repairs in Wisconsin
Nobody wants to go a day without hot water. First Call Heating & Cooling offers fast, reliable service to help keep our Racine, WI, area customers safe and comfortable. Here are some of the more common issues with water heaters:
- A leaking tank
- A stuck valve
- Faulty pilot light
- Loose parts
- Broken anode rod
- Sediment inside tank
- Rust on the outside of the tank
Our core values at First Call Heating & Cooling start with trust and integrity. You can always count on receiving accurate up-front pricing and a clear scope of the project before we begin any work.
Water Heater Maintenance
A small dose of preventative maintenance goes a long way toward extending the service life of your water heater. Scheduling annual tune-ups and inspections allows our team to flush your tank of sediment, check the anode rod, test the pressure-relief valve, and check the wiring, along with other tasks.
Maintenance visits also allow our technicians to uncover and address minor issues before they turn into costly repairs. You schedule tune-ups and oil changes for your vehicles—apply that same strategy to your water heater.
Our First Call Maintenance Plans makes it convenient to schedule service calls and repairs. Join our maintenance plan today to enjoy discounts, priority service, friendly reminders, and other perks.
Call the Water Heater Experts Today
Upgrade the water heater in your Racine, WI, area home, and start saving money today. First Call Heating & Cooling has an experienced team ready to help with all your water heater needs. Call us today at 262-634-9025 or request service online.