Commonly Asked Questions About Commercial Water Heater Repairs & Installations

As a commercial water heater installation specialist, you receive a lot of different questions from clients about repairs and replacement services. You want to supply them with answers and get to work for them right away. However, you always want to ensure that you can help your clients whether it’s a minor or issue or a severe breakdown. Here are some common questions you can expect about water heater replacement, repair, and installation.

You have two basic systems: tank and tankless. A gas or electric tankless water heater heats water on-demand without storing it to use later on. The cold water travels through a pipe and the gas burner or electric heating element will automatically heat it. With a traditional hot water storage tank, the unit has preheated hot water. The system delivers the hot water when someone activates a sink or faucet. However, once the tank no longer contains any hot water, then there is a waiting period for it to refill.

Although many of your commercial clients will want to switch to a tankless system for its energy efficiency, a traditional storage tank has many advantages. The cost of installation is also a lot lower and the systems are usually simpler to operate, which makes them much easier to repair and provide regular maintenance. However, a hot water storage tank tends to create higher utility bills because the unit has to heat and reheat the client’s water supply for when they need to use it.

A commercial tankless water heater is much smaller in size, which means that they require much less storage space. The size of the storage space alone can make things tricky during the installation process. The on-demand capabilities of the tankless water heater eliminate any worry about running out of hot water. As we mentioned earlier, gas and electric tankless water heating units are also much more energy-efficient, and they typically have a much longer lifespan. However, a tankless water heater can cost up to twice as much as a traditional tank water heater. Also, a tankless unit may require you to undergo some retrofitting, which can delay the installation a bit.

Installing a commercial water heater can be tricky depending on the needs and requirements of the client. You should lay out their options in terms of the costs, energy savings, and hot water demands. A storage tank will be their best option if the upfront costs are of any concern to them. However, a tankless water heater will offer economic benefits in the long-term. Also, think about the fuel source. Tankless units can run on natural gas, electricity, oil, propane, or solar power (solar power water heaters gaining a lot of popularity). A storage tank is limited to electricity and natural gas. Also, if your client runs a business with limited space, then you should suggest that they go with a tankless system, which is much more compact in size.

The biggest thing to consider is its age when deciding to replace the client’s existing system. Most hot water storage tanks will last up to 10-15 years maximum, while a tankless system has an average lifespan of 20 years minimum. That’s a huge difference! The quality of the incoming water and the flow rate will also impact your commercial water heater in terms of longevity. Replacing certain components will certainly extend the lifespan of your client’s hot water heater, which will help them maximize their investment. You should also inform them about other signs that they will need to replace their system, which includes leaks, longer wait times to receive hot water, loud rumbling noises when the unit is operating, and hot water that contains rust and sediment.

Your clients are going to want to know about the size that will suit them in terms of their hot water using habits. You know that sizes vary significantly. If the client is installing a hot water storage tank, then you should ask them about how many people they employ. Larger businesses may require multiple +50 gallon water heaters. As for commercial tankless units, this will depend on how much hot water the client requires at any given time. Tankless water heater output typically goes off of flow rate and gallons per minute. The more appliances and fixtures that your client runs at one time, the higher the flow rate capacity they will require.

Broadly speaking, the energy factor deals with how much gas or electricity your unit is using and how efficient it is at using said energy. The energy factor is calculated by comparing the energy the unit uses in a day to the output of hot water. Water heaters with a better energy factor will typically have lower operating costs. Although most water heaters cost more upfront, the client will recoup all of their money over time.

A loud rumbling or pounding noise typically indicates that a thick layer of sediment is collecting at the bottom of your tank. This makes it much more difficult for any commercial unit to undergo normal water heating operations. Although the sounds may seem concerning, you can assure your client that you can easily remedy the problem. The sounds typically mean that your system is working harder than it should in producing hot water. You should recommend to your client that they remedy the issue immediately to improve efficiency and protect their system.

Rust on the outside of the client’s commercial hot water storage tank typically indicates the system is old. However, the lining of the tank is probably still intact, so they won’t have to replace anything just yet. However, you should tell them that an inspection will allow them to assess the situation fully. A professional is going to know if it’s time to make a change or not. Ask them about the age of their system and the last time they replaced their commercial hot water heater.

You always want to be prepared for the questions that your clients are going to ask you. This is why you should study up on some of the more common issues and problems that your clients will experience. Your job is to make things easier, and assure everyone that there are plenty of viable solutions for repairing or replacing commercial water heaters. You should never unsure of yourself – and clients will always take notice of the confidence in your answers!