Water Heater Installation

Inspection, Installation, & Removal

Water Heaters are the most used appliance in our home. We generally take them for granted only paying attention when they are not working. In our area we generally have either electric or gas water heaters. Most are a storage tank type, but tankless water heaters are becoming more popular every day.

Some things to consider when looking at replacing a water heater:

  • Storage type or Tankless

  • Gas or Electric powered

  • Heat Pump or Straight electric

  • Efficiency

  • Dimensions

Installation | Repair | Removal

Installation & Removal for ANY Unit

On-Demand

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters do not store hot water but produce it as needed. A tank type water heater typically has a 40 to 50,000 BTU burner to heat the water over a longer period to store it. The tankless typically has a variable burner that goes up to 200,000 BTU.

It is designed to heat the water as needed and then turn off when the usage stops. Tankless water heaters are usually much more energy efficient than tank models.

Advantages

  • Energy efficient

  • Almost endless hot water

  • Some models have water recirculation pumps built in

  • Take up less space

Disadvantages

  • Require soft water (an absolute must)

  • More maintenance requirements

  • Reduced water pressure

  • More parts to fail

  • More complicated to work on

  • Takes about 5 seconds to get hot water

We generally install Navien brand tankless hot water heaters. We have found they are more reliable, last longer because of the heat exchanger design, and come with a built in small storage tank and pump which can reduce cold water sandwiches and increase speed of the hot water reaching fixtures.

Electric | Heat Pump

Storage Tank Water Heaters

Our hardware can accommodate any budget, energy source, or living space. Our inventory includes electric and storage tank heat pumps at the request of residential and commercial customers alike.

Electric

Electric tank water heaters are simple to install, have only a few parts, and can be very reliable. Most require a 30 amp 220 volt circuit. We generally install Professional Grade Bradford White Electric water heaters because of their easy serviceability, reliability and being American Made. 

Our most popular model is a 50 gallon upright model with 4,500 watt elements. It delivers 64 gallons of hot water in it’s first hour.

Heat Pump

Air to water heat pump water heaters can save up to 2/3 of the cost of electricity. But that is really only in climates where you don’t first have to heat the air. So in a place like California or Florida, a heat pump water heater makes a lot of sense. In a place like Southeastern Idaho, they are much less cost effective.  

A heat pump water heater works by removing heat from the air and transferring it into the water. It then expels cold air. In a warm environment like during the summer here in Idaho, the effect is “free” air conditioning. One challenge is that the heat pump is noisy so the water heater generally needs to be in a place where noise is not a problem. That can complicate getting the cold air out to where it is needed and getting the warm air in to where the water heater is.

Heat Pumps Continued

As regulations now stand, heat pump water heaters will be required in the future, instead of regular electric water heaters. This may be required as early as 2029.

Heat pump water heaters are actually a hybrid type system. They can run on:

  • Heat pump only
  • Heat pump with element back-up 
  • Element only like a regular water heater

Heat pump only will save the most energy but if it is not able to keep up with the demand for hot water, or if the environment around the water heater gets too cold, it will automatically bring on the heating elements to supplement what the heat pump can provide.

Safety Accessories

A proper water heater installation will include some or all of the following items:

  • Earthquake strapping to keep the water heater from tipping in the event of an earthquake.
  • Drain pan hooked up to an auxiliary drain to prevent water damage in the event of a leak.
  • P & T pressure and temperature relief valve piped to the outside or to an appropriate drain.  This can prevent the water heater from becoming like a bomb if it were to overheat and become over pressurized.
  • Expansion tank to help keep the water pressure in the home consistent with fluctuating water temperatures.
  • Water alarm to alert when there is water leaking on the ground.
  • Flexible water connectors between the water heater and the home piping.
  • Proper gas pipe connection to keep it safe from fire and explosions.
  • Proper electrical connections.
  • Cold water emergency shut off valve.

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Common water heater installation concerns

Heat pump water heaters are actually a hybrid type system.  They can run on:

  • Heat pump only
  • Heat pump with element back-up 
  • Element only like a regular water heater

Heat pumps only save the most energy when capable of keeping up with the demand for hot water. If the environment around the water heater becomes too cold, the unit automatically triggers the heating element to supplement what the heat pump can provide.

We generally install Navien brand tankless hot water heaters. We have found they are more reliable, last longer because of the heat exchanger design, and come with a built in small storage tank and pump which can reduce cold water sandwiches and increase speed of the hot water reaching fixtures.

While some water heaters are objectively more efficient or practical for some, others may provide better options based on living situation, budget, or needs. Contact our team at First Call Jewel to get a personalized recommendation from our experts.

Absolutely. First Call Jewel handles everything from the recommendations, installation, and removal of your new and old water heater.

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(208) 522-7777