How Water Heaters Work & Keep Your Water Warm
Having a hot water system is essential in every home. You need hot water for taking showers and washing dishes among other uses. Just as hot water is important, so too is having a good plumber in case of water leaks in the house. Hot water leaks are dangerous as they may damage your electrical appliances and inflate your utility bills. A reliable plumber should be able to fix the problem promptly.
It is therefore important to have the number of an emergency plumber London in case of a hot water leak. You may be wondering how a hot water system works. For a start there are two water pipes connected to a tank, one for water input the other for hot water exit. The external layer of the hot water tank is usually heavily insulated to prevent heat loss. Most household tanks hold an average capacity of between 40 to 60 gallons. Once the cold water enters the steel tank there is a heating system waiting to heat it. There are two main common heating systems, the gas heater or an electric heater. On the gas heating system, the gas burner is placed right beneath the tank. On an electric system, the heating element is fixed inside the water tank.
The heating system is controlled by the thermostat. An ideal thermostat setting may be between 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (49 – 60 degrees Celsius). This is a moderate temperature that is hot enough for most household uses yet not too hot to cause scalding. Once the cold water enters through the dip tube to the bottom of the tank, the thermostat senses it is cold and activates the heater which proceeds to heat the water. The water then heats until it reaches the top temperature set when the thermostat senses and cuts off the heater power. Due to the powerful insulation, the water remains hot until it is used. Once some water is used, more cold water enters the tank. The thermostat then restarts the heater until the water regains its top temperature before cutting off the power again.
Having a good emergency plumber London for consultation is important because they will tell you that the exit pipe is at the top because hot water always rises and the resulting pressure drives it through the pipes. That is the reason that all hot water tanks have a pressure relief valve. This valve is located at the top of the tank and is responsible for releasing excess pressure to prevent an explosion. It also sends a message to the thermostat to put off the heater in case there is a buildup of pressure. There is one more pipe suspended inside the tank that is known as the sacrificial anode rod which prevents corrosion occurring inside the tank.
As you can see the hot water system works on a simple science driven by a thermostat and the fact that hot water always rises to the top and the pressure created is responsible for moving it through the pipes. That is the reason that you should have a qualified and reliable plumber on call since a hot water leak needs urgent attention due to the water pressure in the pipes.
