Coral Springs Water Heater Repair
Imagine in the middle of the night, you suddenly hear a dripping noise coming from the ceiling. You wake up only to notice a puddle of water on the floor. Soon the puddle becomes bigger and bigger until the ceiling collapses and your whole house is flooded. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, this nightmare scenario plays out every day for thousands of homeowners, resulting in costly repairs and major inconveniences. Hiring a Coral Springs plumber with the proper certifications can help to reduce the chances that a leak of this magnitude will happen in the future.
Coral Springs Hot Water Heater Leaks
One of the main sources of Coral Springs water heater leaks is a faulty pressure relief valve. Water heaters are closed tanks that are heated by gas or electricity. As water in the tank is heated, it expands and the pressure inside the tank rises. If the pressure rises too high and the water has no place to go, the tank can start to leak under the enormous pressure of hot water. To combat this, hot water heaters have pressure release valves that are supposed to vent water if the pressure inside the tank gets too high. Sometimes, however, these valves fail to activate, causing the tank to leak.
Another cause of Coral Springs water heater leaking is old age. Tanks are made of metal, which can corrode over time when exposed to water. As the tank ages, rust can build up at the bottom or inside of the tank, causing corrosion of the tank wall. Eventually, the wall of the tank is worn away to the point where the tank cannot contain the pressurized water and a leak occurs. Having the thermostat set too high on the heater can exacerbate both of these problems.
Coral Springs Water Heater Replacements And Tax Credits
If your Coral Springs water heater has sprung a leak, you will need to replace it immediately. While it may seem like a hassle and a catastrophe, there is a silver lining to the unfortunate situation. By installing new, energy efficient water heaters, you could be eligible for a tax credit on your income tax for the next fiscal year. Currently, there are three kinds of water heaters that are approved for a tax credit. They are:
- Gas, oil, and propane heaters
- Electric heat pump water heaters
- Solar Water heaters
To be eligible, the Coral Springs water heater that is purchased must be Energy Star qualified. The homeowner will be credited 30% of the cost of the heater and installation on his taxes up to $1500. Gas, oil, propane, and electric heat pump heaters must be installed by December 31, 2010 to be eligible for a tax credit. Solar water heaters are eligible through December 31, 2016.
Electric vs. Gas Water Heaters
One of the main decisions that most homeowners will face when replacing their Coral Springs water heater is the choice between gas or electric. Gas water heaters have several advantages over electric heaters. For one, the cost of the tank is much cheaper. Next, a gas tank can heat more water in a quicker amount of time for less money than an electric tank. Also, gas is more environmentally friendly than electric tanks. Gas tanks do present a small fire hazard, however, and are more prone to corrosion than electric tanks.
