Category: Water Heaters

Heat Pump (Hybrid) Water Heaters: What Are They? Are they Worth it?

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Heat Pump Water Heaters – also known as Hybrid Water Heaters – have grown in popularity recently. Most homeowners are now moving away from the traditional water heater and transitioning to more efficient and cost-effective options like Heat Pump Water Heaters.

What is a Heat Pump Water Heater?

Instead of generating heat directly – like a traditional electric or gas water heater – a Heat Pump Water Heater operates by using a heat pump to extract the heat from the surrounding air and heating the water within the tank through the coil surrounding it.

The entire process is roughly three times more efficient than a traditional electric water heater because no new heat is generated by the water heater – just transferred. And depending on the model and usage, a Heat Pump Water Heater can reduce your energy bills by up to 78%!

Heat Pump Hybrid Water Heaters What Are They Are They Worth It - Mallick Plumbing & Heating

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What are the Benefits of Heat Pump Water Heaters?

There are many benefits to adding a Heat Pump Water Heater, including:

  • Energy Efficiency: Heat Pump Water Heaters are more energy-efficient than traditional electric or gas water heaters. By transferring heat from the air rather than generating the heat directly, Heat Pump Water Heaters use less energy to heat the same amount of water. This can result in lower energy bills and cost savings over time for homeowners.
  • Reduced Carbon Footprint: With the ability to use less energy, Heat Pump Water Heaters help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce a lower carbon footprint than traditional water heaters.
  • Rebates Available: Depending on the Heat Pump Water Heater’s manufacturer and your home’s location, rebates are available for homeowners to take advantage of. Many state and local governments offer rebates and incentives for homeowners to install energy-efficient Heat Pump Water Heaters. You should contact your utility company to understand what rebates are available for you.

For homeowners in Maryland, here are a few rebates you may be eligible for:

  • Utility rebates through Pepco and Potomac Edison
  • Up to $2,000 in Federal Tax Credits, for those eligible

By abandoning a traditional gas water heater and upgrading to a Heat Pump Water Heater, homeowners can avoid additional maintenance and cost associated with a chimney lining or repair.

Call a Mallick Plumbing & Heating Team Member at (301) 804-6759 to learn if a Heat Pump Water Heater is right for you!

What is the Disadvantage of Heat Pump Water Heaters?

A few things to consider with a Heat Pump Water Heater:

  • Operating Noise: One of the most common concerns homeowners have with Heat Pump Water Heaters is the operating noise. The average Heat Pump Water Heater will produce anywhere from 45-50 decibels, which is equivalent to the humming a standard refrigerator will make. If you’re still concerned with the noise a Heat Pump Water Heater will make, speak to one of our knowledgeable Mallick Plumbing & Heating technicians to better understand which model would be best suited for your home.
  • Space Required: While Heat Pump Water Heaters and traditional water heaters have the same amount of water storage, Heat Pump Water Heaters stand a little taller due to the heat pump that sits on top of the storage tank. This could limit certain heater locations or require some alterations, which Mallick Plumbing & Heating will be able to recognize and make recommendations for.
  • Condensation Production: With Heat Pump Water Heaters, condensation is natural. When the unit pulls air from the surrounding environment, the heat is removed and causes the air to be cooled, leading to the production of condensation. For this reason, Heat Pump Water Heater require a condensation line – unlike traditional water heaters. This line can lead into drains but can sometimes require a few more modifications that our Mallick Plumbing & Heating technicians can help modify to your home and unit’s location.
  • Chimney Maintenance: For customers utilizing gas to heat their water, regular chimney maintenance is recommended – which can lead to chimney lining or repairs. Based on your location, a chimney liner may be required with the installation of a natural draft / gas water heater.
 

Do Heat Pump Water Heaters Work in Cold Climates?

Heat Pump Water Heaters do work in cold climates. However, they are designed to take the heat from the surrounding air to warm the water in the tank. With colder air, Heat Pump Water Heaters require more energy, impacting the system’s efficiency. It is recommended Heat Pump Water Heaters are located in areas between temperatures of 40-90 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the model.

Is it Worth Getting a Heat Pump Water Heater?

Overall, Heat Pump Water Heaters are an efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional water heaters. If you’re looking to reduce your energy bills, take advantage of a few rebates offered to you and cut down on your carbon footprint, a Heat Pump Water Heater may be the ideal choice for you!
Call (301) 804-6759 today to schedule your Heat Pump Water Heater Installation with a trained, insured and certified Mallick Plumbing & Heating technician. 
 
 

Winterizing Your Home

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As the temperatures cool it’s important to take stock of your home and prepare it for winter weather. So, what is ‘winterizing’ and why should you winterize your home? Keep reading to find out!

What Is Winterizing?

Winterizing is the process of preparing your house for the winter. This can be done by insulating pipes, sealing windows and doors, and adding extra insulation to the rest of your house. While winterization is typically used to prepare homes for vacancy during winter months, homeowners at high elevations and in areas with bitterly cold temperatures should consider winterization to preserve their home for years to come.

Most Common Ways to Winterize

While some people leave their home for warmer vacation homes, most people weather the winter by staying put. If you are planning to stay home, there are some simple but effective ways to winterize.

Some of the most common methods include:

  • Weather Stripping: Installing storm doors and windows can help to insulate a home, but a more cost-effective method is weather stripping. Adding strips of rubber or plastic seals around doors and windows helps to keep out drafts and hold in heat. Door sweeps also work to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
  • Pipe Insulation: In many regions, burst pipes are a risk in the colder months. As near freezing water enters the pipes at high pressure, can cause the metal to contract which further weakens already vulnerable parts of the plumbing system. As the cold water continues to rush through, it could cause these week parts to collapse and burst altogether. Using pipe wrap and insulation fittings helps to protect pipes from the cold and prevent bursting.
  • Clean and Protect Gutters: While gutters don’t contribute to drafts, failure to clean them properly could cause build up and prevent proper snow drainage. If snow collects on the roof, it could cause strain, leaking, or even collapse over time. When prepping a home for the winter, it is crucial that you clean the gutters to ensure proper drainage and install gutter guards to keep out leaves and other debris that could clog them.
  • Fireplace Cleaning: Fireplaces are essential during the colder months, but when there are animal nests or creosote buildup a simple fire could become a serious hazard. Not only does cleaning the fireplace prevent issues, but it can also reveal opportunities for sealing and insulation if the fireplace is older or prone to draftiness. In some cases, a fireplace may be too drafty, and you may want to seal it for the winter season.
  • Sealing: Gaps in windows, openings in the attic, and other areas could be responsible for drafts and loss of heat during the winter. Using caulk and insulation to reinforce and seal these areas can protect you from the cold and save money on heating costs.

Are You Ready for Winter?

If you are a homeowner, it may seem like there is an endless list of things you have to do to prepare for changes in the weather. Keeping up with winterization can be a hassle, and it’s easy to forget a task or two. With the help of qualified contractors, you can protect your home, preserve your plumbing, and maximize the effectiveness of your water heater just in time for winter.

Schedule an appointment with Mallick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. today!

The Top 3 Signs Your Water Heater Needs a Repair

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If you look closely, you can see when your water heater needs a repair, and our team at Mallick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. is ready to help you out with that.

Notice one of the 3 signs below? Call us at (301) 804-6759 for a high-quality repair!

Sign #1: Pools of Water Around the Heater

If you notice excess moisture or pools of water around your heater, it may be time for a repair. Loose fittings, connections, and fractures in the tank can all cause leakage – you might even notice the leak gets worse as your water gets hotter because metal expands when it heats up.

Ruined your cozy socks by stepping in a puddle near your water heater? It’s time to call us about a repair.

Sign #2: Strange Noises

Water heater noises are usually a sign that your heater needs fixing. If you hear rumbling noises, sizzling, hissing, crackling, or banging, you could have sediment buildup in your hot water tank. This can make your heater less efficient and lead to cracks, holes, and leaks.

Fortunately, it’s an easy fix when you call Mallick Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Sign #3: Rust-Colored Water

Brown water in your shower? It’s not a horror movie; it’s time for a repair! Over time, rust can build up, and you may need to drain and flush – or replace – your tank.

Our skilled plumbers can help. Call us at (301) 804-6759 or contact us online to get started today.

Are Hot Showers Bad for You?

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There’s nothing more calming than stepping into a hot spray of water at the end of a long day. However, as it turns out, hot showers may not be as relaxing in the long term as we want them to be.

Downsides of Hot Showers

Hot water can be relaxing, but it’s also fairly rough on your skin and hair.

Hot Water Dries Skin Out

The major downside to hot showers is the effects hot water has on your skin. Hot water dries out the sebum layer of skin, which provides much of our body’s natural moisture and protects our skin.

Hot water damages keratin cells on this outer layer of our skin and prevents these cells from creating moisture. The result of dry skin may be a minor inconvenience for some, but it can also worsen pre-existing conditions for individuals with eczema or psoriasis.

Hot Water Increases Blood Pressure

According to Curtis Rimmerman, MD at the Cleveland Clinic, hot water can also increase your blood pressure as any “sudden or extended immersion in hot water can overheat your body and stress your heart.”

Benefits of Hot Showers

Eternally cold people rejoice because hot showers are not without benefits.

  • Good for muscle fatigue – Hot water has been known to help penetrate your skin and ease muscle tension more effectively than using a heating pad or other therapy.
  • Opens up airways – Hot water creates steam, which is proven to help open your airways and improve respiratory health when you’re sick. It can also loosen up any buildup of mucus in your nasal passages, making it easier to breathe through congestion.
  • Purifies pores – Hot steam also opens your pores up and makes it easier for you to get a deep clean as you wash your face.

The cons of hot showers don’t mean you have to give them up entirely. Still, it does mean you should seek to balance your shower temperature and invest in water treatment systems to soften the quality of your water or skincare products such as moisturizers for daily use after bathing.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating can help you improve your water quality so that temperature is the only thing you need to think about in the shower. Contact our team online or by phone at (301) 804-6759 to schedule an appointment today!

3 Reasons to Upgrade to a Tankless Water Heater

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Storage water heaters are generally reliable, but they have their drawbacks. If you live with other people, you’re likely familiar with the frustration of waiting your turn to take a shower only to find that there’s no more hot water left.

Tankless water heaters solve this and other problems associated with conventional storage water heaters. Here are three reasons to ditch the tank:

1. You Never Run Out of Hot Water

A tankless system supplies hot water as needed. Hot water is never stored, so there’s no danger of depleting it. Instead, a tankless system heats water as it flows through the unit, ensuring water comes out of faucets and showerheads at your desired temperature. A typical gas-fired tankless unit will provide 2 to 5 gallons per minute — enough for the average household.

2. You Save Money in the Long Run

While the upfront cost of a tankless unit is greater than that of a standard tank water heater, the initial investment will pay off. That’s because a tankless water heater is up to 34% more efficient, helping trim your monthly energy bill. What makes it more efficient? Consider how a storage water heater operates. A tank water heater must switch on the burner every time the water inside begins to cool, and this constant turning on and off means more energy consumption. It’s called standby loss, and tankless water heaters never suffer from it.

3. Tankless Water Heaters Are More Durable

A storage-tank water heater lasts between 10 and 15 years. By contrast, a tankless model can last well over 20 years. Most of the parts in a tankless water heater are easily replaced, and as for maintenance, it can be an easy DIY project for many owners.

Bottom line: A tankless water heater provides reliable temperature control of your tap water while using significantly less energy. Interested in upgrading? Contact Mallick Plumbing & Heating at (301) 804-6759.

6 Signs You Need a New Water Heater

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One of the joys of living in the modern age is having hot water on demand. Nothing feels better after a hard day’s work than hopping into a hot shower to emerge clean and refreshed. When your water heater doesn’t operate as it should, your quality of life takes a serious hit. Here are six signs that you need a new water heater.

1. Water Pooling Around the Water Heater Base

Behind the exterior case of your water heater lies a steel tank that’s surrounded by insulation. Even with regular maintenance, the tank will eventually erode. Standing water around the base indicates a possible leak. When this happens, you’ll need to replace your water heater promptly to avoid water damage to your home.

Please note that not all puddles are caused by eroded and leaking water heater tanks. Condensation is one reason why small pools of water collect around your water heater one day and disappear the next day. For peace of mind, call an experienced technician to check out your appliance.

2. Rusty Water in the Sink

Everyone has seen those older homes that have rust stains on their bathroom sinks. These stains are often caused by rusty water heater tanks. Rust and corrosion go hand in hand with leaks. Replacing a rusty water heater is the best way to maintain your home’s water quality and avoid damaging leaks later.

3. Water Has a Metallic Smell and Taste

When your tap water has a metallic smell and taste, it’s likely that your metal water heater tank is starting to corrode. This normally happens to older water heaters. However, certain chemicals or sediment in your tap water can cause premature wear and tear on your home’s water heater.

4. Cold or Tepid Water That Doesn’t Get Hot

One evening you’re able to take a nice hot shower, but the next morning your shower water doesn’t get hot. This is a sign that your water heater has possibly died. It also indicates that your tank’s heating element may have burned out.

5. Older Than 15 Years

According to most water heater manufacturers, the average residential water heater lasts between 10 and 15 years. If you purchased your home new, it’s easy to determine the time to replace your water heater. When you buy an older home, it’s best that you get a licensed plumber to examine the appliance to determine its age and condition.

6. Frequent Repairs

Your home’s water heater has reached mid-life, but it requires frequent repairs. This is a clear indication that it’s time for you to consider replacing your water heater. Premature wear can be caused by several factors such as heavy household use or lack of regular preventative maintenance. In these cases, it’s often more cost-effective to replace your water heater than to keep repairing it.

Bottom line: Some water heater issues are solved by doing skilled repairs, replacing parts, or flushing sediment from your water heater’s tank. However, other problems require a replacement system. Mallick Plumbing is a trusted plumbing contracting company that has over 26 years of experience in diagnosing water heater systems in Gaithersburg and surrounding areas. Upon inspection of your system, Mallick’s technicians can tell you whether a water heater repair or a replacement is the right option for you. Contact Mallick Plumbing at (301) 804-6759 today to schedule a service appointment.
 

Upgrading Your Water Heater? A Quick Guide

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Are you ready to upgrade from the current water heater in your home to a new system? This time of year is when many homeowners choose to do so. If you’ve started doing research about replacement on your own then you probably already know that you have many options. If you’re feeling overwhelmed you’re not alone, many homeowners feel this way.

The process of finding a new water heater for your home requires the assistance of a trained professional. If you need a water heater in Columbia, MD then make contact our team. Our staff is trained and licensed but most importantly educated in everything that you need to know.

Knowing Your Options

There are a few types of water heaters that you can choose from on the market. The main three we provide at our company are:

Tank Water Heaters

Tank water heaters are the most common type of water heater on the market. If you’re thinking of a “water heater” in your mind it’s more than likely that you’re envisioning this type of system. Tank water heaters are also known as “storage” water heaters because they store a large amount of water in a tank and keep it at a steady temperature so that it’s always ready for usage.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters are also known as “demand” or “instantaneous water heaters” because unlike storage type water heaters, these types of systems only provide hot water when it’s necessary. They create hot water directly as it moves through your home. Tankless water heaters are an efficient option because they eliminate the standby loss of tank water heaters.

Heat Pump Water Heaters

A heat pump water heater uses heat pump technology is to move heat from the outside of your water heater tank to the inside. This is another great option if you’re concerned about energy efficiency because the process of moving the heat is much less taxing than generating heat in the way that standard water heaters do.

Understanding Your Needs

The next step in upgrading your water heater is understanding your needs. What type of water heater you need is affected by the number of people in your home, your preferences, and how much water you use. It’s always best to have a professional work to calculate the needs of your home. We can let you know what will work for you, instead of letting your realization of your water heater’s limitations come by way of an icy cold shower.

Our technicians are knowledgeable so they can conduct a quick an efficient load calculation. Your water heater is important. Homeowners don’t always realize just how important it is but a water heater accounts for nearly 17% of your home’s energy usage. It consumes more energy than all your other household appliances combined. We’ll make sure that you can rely on the water heater you choose.

We know how stressful the process of purchasing new appliances for your home is. If you need a great water heater in Columbia, contact Mallick Plumbing & Heating today to schedule an appointment.

Has the Time Come to Replace Your Water Heater?

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This water heater, too, shall pass!

There’s no such thing as “the only water heater you’ll ever need.” Any appliance that does as much work as a hot water heater—and the one in your house probably runs every day, four seasons a year—accumulates large amounts of wear and tear. Proper maintenance can lessen how fast a water heater runs down, but the day will come when an owner must make the decision to stop having it professionally repaired and instead have it professionally replaced.

If you’re asking the big question in the heading, we’d like to help. The best way to get our help is to call our plumbers for a consultation and inspection. Before you do that, we can provide you with some guidelines to help you think about whether you ought to replace that water heater.

Age is the first consideration

Water heaters can sometimes last more than 20 years, and tankless units tend to fall on the longer service lifespan spectrum. Once a water heater is more than 15 years old, it needs closer observation for signs of it wearing down, losing efficiency, requiring more repairs, etc. We strongly recommend replacing any water heater in service for more than two decades.

Corrosion? Bad news!

Water heaters are designed to resist corrosion for many years: they have glass lined interiors and a sacrificial anode rod that draws corrosion away from the rest of the system. Age, however, can allow the gnawing of corrosion (and the word corrosion is derived from the Latin word “to gnaw”) to start taking bites out of a water heater. When you see corrosion on your water heater, it almost always means it needs replacement. (Watch out for discoloration in your hot water, since it points toward a tank that’s corroded out from the inside.)

The water heater’s performance has been dropping

Is the water heater simply not doing the job it used to? If people in your home are actually eager to get up earlier and earlier so they can be the first people into the showers and not get stuck with a lukewarm shower, you may have a dying water heater. Repairs can only do so much, and when “so much” is “not much at all,” it’s replacement time.

Leaks, leaks, leaks

The only place on a water heater where you should see leaks are from the pressure relief valve. This valve releases a small amount of water to regulate pressure in the tank of a storage water heater. Water appearing anywhere else around the system is a repair need. If those leaks are common, the water heater may be in a final decay.

For a Columbia, MD, plumber with the experience necessary to determine the best step for your old water heater, you only have to call us. We work with tank, tankless, and heat pump water heaters, and can handle any type of repair or replacement.

Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the service contractor of choice for Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Speak to our experts today for water heater replacement advice.

Things to Consider for a Heat Pump Water Heater Installation

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Time to get a new water heater. No, this isn’t as exciting as “time to get a new flat screen UHD television and pre-order the 50th anniversary 4K Blu-ray of 2001: A Space Odyssey.” (Seriously, who isn’t excited for that? Have you ever seen the film in a crystal clear large format? A-MAZ-ING.) However, getting a new water heater is one of the most important things you can do for your home since you use hot water every day and a good portion of your monthly utility bills goes toward powering the water heater.

Now that you’re thinking of getting a water heater, you may be considering a heat pump water heater rather than a conventional model. This technology may be new to you, so let’s look closer at some of the facts of heat pump water heaters to think about.

The potential savings

A heat pump water heater works similarly to the familiar tank water heater: water is stored in a tank and energy is applied to raise the temperature of the water to keep it ready for use. The difference is that where a standard water heater creates energy to heat the water through gas jets or electrical heating elements, a heat pump water heater uses refrigeration. How does that work? It’s a refrigeration system working in reverse. Instead of pumping heat out of space, it pumps heat into space. The heat isn’t created, it’s moved from the air outside the water heater and then released into the water.

This process of moving heat consumes less power than creating heat. In theory, you should spend less to power a heat pump water heater. According to the ENERGY STAR program, a large family can save $3,500 over the unit’s lifetime. The savings depend on what type of water heater you used before. Changing from an electric water heater to a heat pump water heater is usually a huge improvement. Going from natural gas to a heat pump might not be as significant a change.

A heat pump has special requirements

Not every home is right for a heat pump water heater installation, and this is why it’s crucial to work with professionals to ensure the new system is a good match. A heat pump water heater needs to be placed in an unoccupied space with sufficient room (around a thousand cubic feet of air, or a 12’ by 12’ space) for it to access the heat it needs. It cannot be placed in an area that grows extremely cold in winter such as an unheated garage. The ambient temperature should fall between 40° and 90°F around the year for the water heater to work efficiently.

Call water heater professionals

We’d love for you to experience the benefits of a heat pump water heater, but we also want you to have the right water heater to meet your needs. When you’re planning for a water heater installation in Gaithersburg, MD, contact our team and they can help you out. Tell them you’re interested in a heat pump unit, and they’ll see what can be done. No matter what type of unit you end up with, our professionals will see that it fits your budget, helps lower costs, and delivers the volume of hot water you need.

Install the best new water heater for your home with the Service Contractor of Choice: Mallick Plumbing & Heating.