Posts Tagged ‘Water Heaters’

Why Is My Boiler Leaking Water?

Monday, October 17th, 2022

Boiler leaking water with tools nearby.You head into the laundry room and notice a puddle near the water boiler. You check the drain valve and it’s definitely closed, so what’s going on with your boiler?

Even though water boilers are set to last for decades, they’re prone to maintenance problems throughout the years. Let’s help you find all the reasons your boiler might be leaking.

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Is a Tankless Water Heater Worth the Investment?

Monday, March 27th, 2017

We are not out of winter’s cold grasp just yet. While the coldest weather of the year may be behind us, Vermonters know that the official start of spring doesn’t necessarily mean warmer temperatures right away. We also know that we’ve got to get through mud season before we can start enjoying summer weather, and with our decent amount of snowfall this year, it will likely be a muddy one indeed. That all being said, you’re probably looking forward to giving your heater a rest already.

Well, the heating season may be winding down, and you can certainly start thinking about your AC tune-up, but the fact is that the cooling season is still a way off. If you’re looking for a project to fill the gap, you may want to think about replacing your water heater this year. If you’ve not been impressed with yours, or if it struggled to meet your hot water demand this winter, just let us know. We can install a new one for you, and we encourage you to consider a tankless water heater in Ludlow, VT. (more…)

Water Heater Pro Tip: Keep a Good Anode Rod in Place

Monday, June 20th, 2016

Despite competition from tankless water heaters, which are more and more popular these days, the tank water heater remains the most popular of all water heating systems. They are more affordable upfront, and modern hot water storage tanks are more efficient than ever before. This is not to say that there is no risk of operational problems with a tank water heater, of course. One of the most serious is rust and corrosion. If you are planning on keeping your tank water heater in Charlestown, NH working properly, you need to protect your hot water tank with an anode rod. (more…)

Why Consider a Solar Hot Water Heater?

Friday, March 27th, 2015

It wasn’t too long ago that the only choice you had to make in regard to your home’s hot water heater was whether you were going to use electricity or gas, oil or propane to heat the water. These days there are a number of options for homeowners, and one such option is the solar hot water heater. There can be concerns about using solar energy for any kind of heating, particularly in a cold climate like ours, but using environmentally-friendly refrigerant helps harness the sun’s latent heat energy year-round, including the chilly New Hampshire winter months. If you are ready for a new water heater in your New Hampshire home, and want to see if a solar water heater is a good fit, call the experts at HB Energy Solutions today!

How It Works

Because we live in a climate where water can easily freeze during the winter months, we use a solar hot water heater system that utilizes a solar collector and environmentally-friendly refrigerant. The solar collector is a protected panel that has a dark glass surface; contained inside the collector are numerous tubes that hold the refrigerant. The solar collector serves as the device by which the heat from the sun is ‘collected’ and heats the refrigerant in the tubes. Once the refrigerant is warm enough, it is circulated to a heat exchanger that resides in the tank of your hot water heater. The heat from the refrigerant is transferred to the water, and you’ve got hot water for your home.

Benefits

There are a number of benefits to using a solar hot water heater:

  • You can still have gas or electric back-up – using a tank water heater allows you to have back-up power for your hot water heater in the form of electricity or gas. As such, you’ll never have to worry that the sun alone won’t provide enough heat for your hot water.
  • Significant decrease of energy usage – it’s estimated that solar hot water heaters reduce your energy usage by 50-80%. This can significantly reduce your home’s energy usage.
  • Very environmentally friendly – if you are concerned about your carbon footprint, a solar water can help to greatly reduce yours.

Solar hot water heaters require specialists for installation, repair, maintenance and replacement, so if you are ready to install one in your New Hampshire home, call the people you can trust: HB Energy Solutions.

Southern Vermont Solar Question: Do Solar Water Heaters Work Effectively in the Winter?

Monday, December 17th, 2012

Most people associate solar energy systems with the clean, sustainable production of electricity or heat for your Southern Vermont home. It is also possible, though, to use this exceptionally environmentally friendly energy source to heat water for use in your home efficiently and dependably. As is the case with any energy source or water heater, though, a number of factors can influence the success with which a solar water heater operates in your home and on your property. It is important to discuss all of your options and considerations with a qualified solar energy technician. Call HB Energy Solutions today to get all the information you need about heating water with solar energy.

Many homeowners are concerned about the operation of solar energy systems during the winter months. It is important to remember that heat is not what powers your solar energy system but the energy of the sun that is directed at the solar panels. While the days are certainly shorter in the winter time and sunlight is not as continuous as in the summer, your solar panels will still absorb the sunlight available to them.

The success of your solar water heater in the winter time really depends upon such factors as the number of panels you are using as well as the size of your system, the orientation of your property in relation to the sun, and other design points of the system as a whole. If you do not currently have a water heater integrated into your solar heating system, contact a member of our team today to have your system assessed.

Remember too that a backup energy system is often advisable when using solar power for those times when the sun just doesn’t seem to want to shine. Incorporating another fuel source into your solar energy system to supplement your solar energy will help to eliminate these worries. For more information about using a solar water heater in your Southern Vermont  home, contact HB Energy Solutions today.