What Get Your Water Hot?
A water heater will need an element in order to heat the water within the unit. The heater element is usually a metal rod which heats water housed within the heaters canister. The metal rod gets hot via electricity, which results in the surrounding water getting hot.
Most heater elements will be made from either ceramic or metal. The former is considered the most efficient and is less prone to corrosion, which is prevalent in areas suffering from hard water.
The element is usually started by a thermostat controller. When the water temperature drops below a certain predefined setting, the element will kick in with an electrical current. This causes the metal rod to get extremely hot, which in turn will heat the surrounding water.
Replacing an element is not as hard a some would think. All it needs are a few simple tools and a good understanding of electricity. The heater must first be drained and disconnected from its power source before any replacement is done. Once this is done, the element can be replaced easily and then reconnected to its power source.
There are various different kinds of water heaters that are available today. Such as gas, electric, and even solar-powered units. A heater element will only be needed for an electric unit. Due to the fact the water will be heated with metal rods within a canister, and not via a boiling process that other units use.
Most of the larger water heaters will come with two water heater elements. This is usually better because the water will be heated from the top and bottom portion of the cylinder. This dual-heater element design offers a faster heating capability than its single-heater counterpart.
If you would like to know more about our services in the Mckinney, TX area, please do not hesitate to contact us at B+D Plumbing Services LLC today at (214) 334-7307.