Hi

Just spoke to J. Sullivan and I want to say he was most helpful to me and answered every question I had regarding Navien and also gave me some pointers that are invaluable to me in getting started with a new heating and hot water system.  I’m in Wyoming and Mr. Sullivan is in CT so there was nothing in this phone call for him regarding business and yet he took the time to answer all my questions – I would buy Navien just because of him!

Ron from WY

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We appreciate all our comments, but I wanted to make this one an individual post because Ron was nice enough to write this on our behalf.

Our conversation stated with Ron asking us what kind of tankless water heaters we like the best currently.  I told Ron all about how tankless heaters work, and the pros and cons of all tankless water heaters.  We also gave him an idea of what they should cost and the installation price should be around.   We have great success with all of our Navien heaters installations, and suggested the new Navien combi boiler for his water heater replacement.   He needed a new water heater, and his boiler was running on borrowed time.  A good opportunity to upgrade to a new Navien combi boiler.
A new Navien combi boiler/domestic hot water heater cost less than a new boiler, and replace both the boiler and the water heater with one small powerful energy saving unit.  It uses less than half the energy than traditional boilers, and hot water heaters do over the coarse of a year.  Half the energy = half of the utility bills.

It’s true I took the time to tell Ron everything I felt would be useful for making his decision about his next water heater purchase, and we will do the same for you.

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The thumb nail picture from the front page is not a real picture of Ron,  it’s what we think he might look like.  lol.

If you’re looking for a great electrician that charges affordable prices you only need to know one name.

Bob  Owner and operator of
Bob’s Electrical Contracting. Llc.
License # ELC-0197569  E1
Milford, CT- 06461

You can reach him from our toll free number1-800-524-4280, or you can call him directly at
203-606-5877

Connecticut’s  premier electrical contractor, Bob’s Electrical Contracting responds with licensed electricians in fully-equipped vans to handle your residential, commercial and industrial repairs, remodels, new construction and maintenance contracts.  Bob’s is  licensed, bonded and insured. We’ll respond same-day for an emergency and arrive on time for an appointment. We’ll walk your property and give you a free estimate for electrical. We’ll do the job on the spot and clean-up after ourselves too. In the case of a complex project, we’ll meet construction deadlines and pass inspection the first time, saving you time and money.

Bob has been charging affordable prices for top quality workmanship for all of Fairfield, Connecticut for years.  The thing is he doesn’t have any advertising, so no one knows how to find him.

This page is dedicated to the best electrician I know in fairfield CT.  Bob’s electrical contracting

I met Bob just by chance on a big renovation job about 6 months ago, and we hit off right.
Personality wise, he’s a nice fella, but professionally he’s a true pro.  He takes the “Mike Holmes” approach to his trade.   Meaning he “does it right the first time,” with no short cuts.

We use Bob for all of our electrical needs, and we gladly refer him to all of our customers for all of their electrical needs.  You should give him a call and see for yourself why Bob is the best electrician in Fairfield CT, probably the entire state of Connecticut, maybe the entire world.  It is possible.

Workmanship, honesty, integrity, and fair prices = unbeatable value and the reason why you should call Bob’s electrical contracting for your next electrical task.

Pictures coming soon.
Referrals upon request.

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Electrical Services Offered-

Remodeling home electrical services. Boosts value, and comfort

Remodeling your present home has never made more economic sense than it does today, and great living upgrades for the modern home begin with up-to-date electrical systems that boost your home’s value and enhance your lifestyle comfort. Bob’s Electrical Contracting provides quality electrical solutions for homeowners from the smallest problem to the largest remodeling project.  Some electrical projects you may have Bob has done many times before.

• Service Upgrades
• Whole House Surge Protection
• Lightning Strike Protection
• Hot Tubs
• Light Fixtures
• Switch Repair
• Outlets
• Outdoor Lighting
• Appliance Installation
• Low Voltage
• Basement Wiring
• Add Circuits
• Stove or Oven Wiring
• Aluminum Wiring
• Electric Meters

For the much-older home, it all starts with rewiring. Rewiring your electrical system guarantees that your older home is brought up to modern building codes, and ensures your family’s safety. While doing so, look to extend your electrical reach – more outlets in more convenient locations, updated lighting systems for increased ambiance and energy savings, and plenty of reliable and appropriate power sources for all of the wired and wireless appliances and devices that define modern living.

Even relatively newer homes can often use an electrical update – more outlets to meet your family’s needs, new lighting and light switches for ambiance and energy efficiency, and accommodations for new appliances, all add value to your family’s day-to-day living.

Remember, one in-home office workstation these days can require 12 or more electrical connections: computer, monitor, printer, keyboard, desk lamp, calculator, telephone, fax, scanner, laptop, pencil sharpener, radio, TV…and more. Expert electrical service not only insures the safety of your family, but also adds the aesthetic value of masking unsightly cords.

Another concern for homeowners is security. Bob’s Electrical Contracting installs perimeter lighting, fire and burglar alarm systems, motion-controlled lighting, CCTV and card access systems – many systems now used in both high-end residences, businesses and multi-family residential developments.

And don’t forget that for nearly every home, more extensive remodeling requires top-notch electrical work. Imagine that wonderful new kitchen or bathroom, the basement redone into a marvelous family space, a new hot tub, that child’s room updated to meet the expectations of a teenager, even a solar system – all begin with an electrical plan to ensure that your dreams are fully realized.

Bob’s Electrical Contractors expertly delivers the quality results you expect on all of these services and more, and we work hand-in-hand with remodeling contractors to ensure your new project is done right, on-budget and when promised.

When looking for quality electrical service, look first to Bob’s Electrical Contracting Residential Division for such work as:

SERVING ALL OF FAIRFIELD AND NEW HAVEN COUNTIES, CONNECTICUT

Commercial electrical services

Bob’s Electrical Contracting is equipped to manage all of your commercial building electrical requirements at every level—from multi-million dollar new-build projects to minor electrical installations and repairs. At each and every commercial level, our goal is to create a commercial electrical system that insures safety and energy efficiency, while at the same time equipping work spaces for maximum productivity today and as needs grow over time.

Bob’s Electrical Contracting Services’ Construction treats each customer with unparalleled professionalism, attention to detail and respect, whether it is a design/build or bid/build project.

At Bob’s Electrical Services, we have the experience you can trust, but we are always looking to stay on top of technological and industrial advancements to continually give our customers the best product and service possible. From, new commercial construction and remodeling, to building retrofit and electrical maintenance services, we serve the eletrical needs of commercial property owners with quality and timely services throughout the entire state of Connecticut.

Bob’s Electrical Contracting Commercial Services Division provides ongoing, year-round maintenance for multi-family HOAs, retail centers and commercial property owners and property managers. Proactive and regular check-ups can save owners considerable operations costs. That’s a savings that HOA managers and property managers are proud to pass along to their clients, ensuring client retention and satisfaction. Our Commercial Services Division also performs indoor and outdoor electrical maintenance, including bucket truck services and parking lot lighting maintenance.

Bob’s Electrical Contracting Commercial Services Division delivers:

For any commercial or industrial electrical project, contact Bob’s electrical contracting at  800-524-4280 or you can try bob directly at

Connecticut’s premier General Contractors have depended on all star electrical services from Bob’s electrical contracting for years. Regarded as the go-to full-service electrical contractor capable of handling projects from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollar projects our services for Commercial Construction and Design have been tapped for:

L I C E N S E D • B O N D E D
SERVING FAIRFIELD & NEW HAVEN COUNTIES
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Reporting from inside an official training seminar:  The Combie Boiler from Navien-

We were recently invited to attend Navien’s most recent training seminar to discuss the new addition to their product line.  The new Combie tankless heater/boiler.

This product is amazing, and Navien’s product representative Rich gave us all the inside tips about the proper installation and operation of this product.  We could have read the installation manual like everyone else before our next installation, (and we will) but going to these kinds of meetings give us the peace of mind that we know possibly everything we can know about these units.   Their was a supplemental installation guide, and “a tips to remember chart”  that won’t be included with the units, so we did acquire additional information that other installers will have.  IMO All plumbers should be required to go to these kinds of seminars/know what they are doing before installing these things.  This isn’t the case however, and only about 2 dozen plumbers out of many hundreds invited actually did attended this seminar.

We can now guarantee and provide the proper installations, and operation of this brand new device. The Navien combi boiler

I snapped a few pictures just for the sake of snapping a few pictures.  Out of respect to the other guys attending the seminar i didn’t know  I took them from the back.

Inside the training seminar.

Sneaky sneaky.

Bruce learning.

Taking a look inside the combie boiler.

Down to the Nitty Gritty-

DO NOT INSTALL A NAVIEN COMBI BOILER UNLESS YOU ARE A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL!!!

We are one of the very best plumbing companies in the business of installing tankless water heaters.  For the simple fact that we install 2 – 3 a week, every single week.   By installing so many of them we are usually able to install one, and remove the old tank within one day.   We also get better prices that 95% of all the plumbers/ plumbing companies in our area because of the volume of units we purchase.  By getting the units at lower prices, and installing them quickly, and being able to over come all if any obstacles we are able to offer prices that are regularly 500 – 1,000 lower than other local plumbing companies prices we “compete” with.

Please take a look at some of our past Navien tankless installations.

An amazing duel tankless water heater installation, with 20 pics.
http://www.waterheatinginfo.com/tankless-water-heaters/an-amazing-duel-tankless-water-heater-installation-with-20-pics/

Another high quality tankless water heater installation in Fairfeild, 8 pics
http://www.waterheatinginfo.com/tankless-water-heaters/another-high-quality-tankless-water-heater-installation-12-pics/

An perfect tankless installation in a condo.
http://www.waterheatinginfo.com/tankless-water-heaters/last-weeks-tankless-installation-at-harbor-close-townhouse/

Navien complaints & trouble shooting (Part 1)
http://www.waterheatinginfo.com/tankless-water-heaters/navien-complaints-trouble-shooting-part-1/

Navien troubleshooting guide (service manual)
http://www.waterheatinginfo.com/tankless-water-heaters/navien-troubleshooting-guide-service-manual/

Fixing a tankless water:
http://www.waterheatinginfo.com/category/tankless-water-heaters/

Price match guarantee.

We have never had to use it once yet, but we proudly offer a price match on any other licensed/ insured plumbing companies “realistic” written quote on the same tankless water heater, and installation.

We love Navien for many reasons, but also have access to many other brands of tankless water heaters, and are happy to install a brand other than Navien.   However we will not install a low quality unit, (for example anything from home depot) because we won’t take the chance of having any call backs.  We won’t risk our reputation on installing low quality products. We also don’t normally install electric tankless water heaters for a few reasons we can talk about over the phone.

We provide top quality plumbing information and, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas. Contact us today for a professional plumbing experience.  New tankless water heater installations aren’t cheep, but the return on investment is quick, and the installation process is painless. We are here to get your new tankless hot water heater installed as quickly, safely, and affordable as possible. Invite us over for a free estimate today.

Save money, live better, help the earth!

Please visit this link for the full, “official” page.  It has the complete story, graphics, pics, all together much better than this post.   http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer

Importance of Residential Energy Use

$241 billion. That’s how much is spent every consumers spend each year on energy for home use. About 1 in 5 of the nation’s energy dollars is spent in homes. Energy efficiency improvements could cut this number by well over half.

90% of your time. That’s the proportion of the average American’s time spent indoors. The quality of indoor air is often worse than the air outside. Moisture and gasses from building materials are some of the many invisible sources of indoor air pollution. When done right, energy efficiency upgrades will also improve indoor air quality and make your home safer and more comfortable.

1.2 billion tons of greenhouse-gas emissions. That’s what is emitted (as carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere as a byproduct of making the energy to power U.S. homes. Every single thing done to save energy at home trims these emissions.

Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. And each year, electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars.

Right in your own home, you have the power to reduce energy demand, and when you reduce demand, you cut the amount of resources, like coal and gas, needed to make energy—that means you create less greenhouse gas emissions, which keeps air cleaner for all of us…and saves on your utility bills! Plus, reducing energy use increases our energy security.

The Hidden Cost of Home Energy Use

By improving your home’s energy efficiency, you can profit in three ways: save money, improve your life, and help the earth, andy making your home safer and more comfortable.

Many people believe that their car is the largest single source of air pollution for which they are personally responsible. But in fact, the average home causes the emission of more than twice as much carbon dioxide—the principal greenhouse gas—as the average car. This is because most of the energy consumed in our homes is produced by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. This pollution is actually a hidden cost for the energy we use, over and above the dizzying $241 billion Americans spend each year on their home energy bills— that’s about $2,100 per house!

Much of this energy use is unnecessary because there are a variety of proven, widely available products on the market today (heating, cooling, appliances, windows, lighting, etc.) to drastically reduce your home’s energy bills, and accompanying pollution. What’s more, many of these products actually improve the comfort and livability of your home.

The example below is for the national average home. Begin a Home Energy Saver session to see an example for your area.

Saving Money

Not only does the environment benefit from using energy-efficient equipment, your wallet benefits too. By using energy-efficient products, such as those with the ENERGY STAR label, you can avoid energy waste and save money on your utility bills.

Think of it this way—whenever you buy an energy-consuming product, it really has two price tags. The first price tag is the initial purchase price. The second price tag isn’t so obvious—it’s the cost to operate the product over its lifetime. Because this second price tag is hidden in your monthly utility bills, it’s easy to overlook. But the second price tag can be large. For some products, it can be even more than the initial price. So when you are comparing models, remember the second price tag before you buy. Products with the ENERGY STAR label come with a smaller second price tag, which means lower utility bills every month for years to come.

When we spend money on new appliances, heating and cooling equipment, or a new home, we want to get the most for our investment. A smart way to make a good investment is to think about energy efficiency. Energy-efficient products often have a little higher initial purchase price than their inefficient competitors. But the higher price is really an investment that will be paid back in utility bill savings for years to come. In fact, investments in energy-efficient products can yield returns higher than stocks, bonds, or many other alternative investments. For instance, buying a high-efficiency refrigerator instead of a standard model can yield annual “interest” of almost 25% on the initial investment.

Living Better

Efficient homes do more than save money and reduce pollution. They’re also more comfortable and safer.

The familiar causes of discomfort — humidity, drafts, cold windows in winter or hot windows in summer — are all lessened by improvements in energy efficiency. It turns out that many efficient building components also enhance safety. Insurance companies are even considering offering reduced premiums for homes with these types of features.

For example:

• Compact fluorescent lamps last longer, reducing the hassle, cost, and risk of injury associated with lamp changes. CFL fluorescent torchiere light fixtures eliminate a serious fire hazard posed by the halogen fixtures they replace.
• Highly-insulating windows improve thermal comfort, reduce ultraviolet fading of furnishings, are a deterrent to burglars, and cut down on exterior noise.
• Horizontal-axis clothes washers remove stains more effectively and trim water and detergent bills.
• Efficient duct systems help eliminate pressure imbalances in homes that can precipitate indoor air quality problems such as backdrafting of combustion appliances or the entry of radon gas into the home.
• Well-insulated ceilings can prevent the formation of damaging rooftop ice dams, and the danger of roof damages or falling icicles.
• Well-insulated crawlspaces reduce the likelihood of frozen water pipes.
• A comprehensive effort to make the home’s walls, ceiling, floor and windows more efficient pays off in terms of a smaller (and thus less expensive) furnace and air conditioner.

Other examples of these “non-energy benefits” are listed here.

Helping the Earth

We all depend on using energy as part of our daily lives. But when we use products that waste energy, we harm the environment. This is because most of the energy consumed in our homes and offices is produced by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. When these fuels are burned, they release air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particles that contribute to smog, acid rain, and respiratory disease. Another pollutant, carbon dioxide, contributes to global climate change.

The evidence clearly indicates that we are already witnessing the effect of human activity on the global climate. Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use, including the generation of electricity, are the largest world-wide contributor to global climate change. Disruptions now linked to climate change include an increase in the number of severe temperature and rainfall episodes, stress on water resources, and the degradation of natural ecosystems. The consequences span almost every domain of society: our settlements, health, agriculture, and even energy systems.

Created for the US Department of Energy
by the Environmental Energy Technologies Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. ©2010

Let us get you on the right track by installing a new ultra highly efficient tankless water heater, or heat pump water heater as soon as your ready!

We provide top quality plumbing information and, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas. Contact us today for a professional plumbing experience.  New tankless water heater installations aren’t cheep, but the return on investment is quick, and the installation process is painless. We are here to get your new tankless hot water heater installed as quickly, safely, and affordable as possible. Invite us over for a free estimate today.

If you need a good plumber in Massachusetts then you need to look no further.

800-524-4280

Service Work

• All general plumbing repairs
• Kitchen: gas appliances, sinks, dishwashers, icemaker lines, garbage disposals
• In the bath: toilets, faucets, sinks, shower, bath, steam units
• Heating: forced hot water, radiant heating, new boilers, boiler repair
• Outdoors: sink outside, faucets, irrigation tie-ins, gas grills
• Hot water heaters
• Other: fireplace gas inserts, driers, freestanding gas fireplaces, on demand water heating systems

New Construction / Remodels / Additions

• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Outdoor / Indoor
• Forced Hot Water Heating

We provide top quality plumbing information, services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and more throughout the state of Massachusetts including – Ashland, Bellingham, Canton, Dover, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norfolk, Northborough, Norwood, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Walpole, Wayland, Weston, Westborough, Wellesley and more..

Do you ever get frustrated while searching for quality information about different things, and end up roaming the internet for hours just to come up empty handed???    Sadly the plumbing industry, and 90% of the websites that talk about/ sell tankless water heaters are mostly junk.

Someone recently Google searched -How to find a plumber to fix a water heater-  and WaterHeatingInfo.com came up number 8 on the first page.  Not bad considering we don’t spend any money on advertising, and up until yesterday made zero effort to be on the top of a search for that search term.

However when I looked at all the other “websites” i saw that they were all web directories, and non of which had anything to do with plumbing, or water heating information.  Anything of substance at least in my unbiased opinion.  

It seems like there are million of websites out there just out for a quick buck for their owners, which is the mission of most sites and that’s fine, however these “plumbing/ water heater websites” are selling referrals, and water heaters, and not one person that works for the company has ever installed one water heater.  That’s just not right to me!

Not to pat my self on the back to much, and I’m not saying I, or any other writers on this site are the best plumbers in the world, but just for the sake argument.  I have personally installed more than 2,500 water heaters, 30 tankless water heaters, 40 oil fired water heaters, 1 heat pump water heater, dozens of storage tanks, etc…………………………

I know my business.  I know water heaters.  I know plumbers, and how to find good ones, how to avoid bad ones.

I’m going to put some major amount of time and resources to get a list of ten great plumbers from every state across America.  It’s not going to cover everyone, but it’s going to provide about 80% of America with a name/ number/ and all the info you will need.

If you need a plumber in your town, just tell us what it is that you need.
We will find a great company, and in many cases we can even negotiate a great price on your behalf!

***(If you are a great plumber, or know plumbing company that would like to get involved with the greatness here give me a call 203-556-6449, or shoot me an email at  amnindustries@yahoo.com)

We know what materials cost, how long it takes to do the job, problems that could arise, and what’s a fair price or rip off status. We can normally get you a price over the phone, from a qualified plumber in your area, but if we can’t we will arm you with tons of info so you can be better educated/  better prepared.

Need a good plumber in your town?   If it’s not  total emergency let us find a plumber for you.  If we can’t find one for you, will let you know within the hour.  You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain.   (Ps. call anyone from the Contact Us page, and ask them how the site is working for them so far)
If not check out this add below.

J- Sullivan.   aka  The Solution
President & CEO
WaterHeatingInfo.com / AMN Industries self publishing systems.

Your water heater is leaking, but it’s still providing hot water.
It’s time to replace the water heater but money is tight, and you need to know how long you can wait until is fails all together.  Don’t worry, we’ve heard that hundreds of time before.

That’s almost normal because no body plans on their water heater breaking down, and expenses like these seem to always come at the wrong time.  You may be lucky and your water heater will provide for a couple pay checks, but how much longer after that is anyone’s guess.    As some water heaters approach their final days they will develop  pin holes leaks in the inner tank wall, and you see water on the floor.  Some water heaters will start to leak and still continue to provide hot water for months, and some water heaters can have a massive blow out a few days after the first leak developed.

So what should you do?

You should buy a new water heater.

If money is really tight and you need to hold out until your next pay check or two keep your fingers crossed and prey.

If the water heater is in the basement with a sum pump near by.   Get use some towels and create a channel from the water heater to the sump pump in order to direct the water towards the sum pump.

If your water heater is in a basement or garage with concrete floors, and not to much “stuff” around that can be ruined, get some old towels on the floor around the tank and just let it leak.  The concrete will stuck up a few gallons of water a day on it’s own.

If your water heater is located within living space, or in a apartment, (any other place than garage or basement)  their isn’t much you can do with out creating a mess of water.  You should turn off the water going to the water heater, then drain and  get all the remaining water out asap.  Also this is important, you can not use any water after you remove the old tank.  After the old leaking water heater is removed  you can not use  any water from the house or building until the lines are properly capped.
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I drained my water heater, why is it filled with water again?

When you continue to use the water on any fixture that mixes (is a single handle)  water will go back down backwards threw the “hot” water line back down to the water heater, and it will refill the water heater.   The only way to prevent this from happening, is to have a shut off valve on both the cold and hot side of the water heater.  However shut off valves on the hot side of the water heater is illegal, so technically you shouldn’t have one (but you might).

If you can’t get the new water heater installed quickly, you will want to remove the water heater and cap the water lines.  That way you can use cold water in the rest of the house without making a big mess.

You could drain the water heater, and cut it out of it’s location, then cap the lines.  If your not a plumber, you can get some Shark bite caps, which require no soldering skills.  They just snap right over the pipe, as long as the copper, or pex has long as there is a nice clean cut.  Shark bite caps are about 4-8 dollars a piece.

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Where is the cheapest place to buy a new hot water heater?

I would normally NEVER say this but if money is extremely tight and you need a water heater today, you should go to home depot or lowes, and open a new credit card (if you don’t currently have one).   I know they used to do a -No Payment deal for the first 12 months for purchases between 200 – 999 dollars on new accounts.   If that’s still in effect your in luck.  Open up a new credit card, and if approved you are good to go.  This is only for new accounts though, so if you already have one, get a close family member to help by opening a new account and getting the heater.   Home depot and Lowes prices are very close they both charge 300-600 dollars for new water heaters, and another 289-325 for installation.   Home depot and Lowes both have extra charges though.  40 fee for stairs – 125 dollars for a new shut off valve if you need one.  Basically if their are any issue, (which there often are with new water heater installations) they will to charge you for something in addition to your basic labor changes.  The installer for either Lowes or Home Depot must allow you to put the extra charges on the store credit card.  However most installers will encourage you to pay he or she directly in order to avoid sharing that “extra” money with the store.

It’s always better to go with a licensed plumber, but only a publicly traded companies like home depot & Lowes can give sell you everything up front, the  heater & installation, and not take a payment for 12 months.

Need more information about dealing with a bad water heater?  Well then you are in the right place.
Here are just a few of the 55+ stories about water heaters we have.

How to properly drain a hot water heater.

How to drain a water heater in a basement.

How do I figure out what kind of water heater I have or need?

How to know if your water heater is under warranty.

The best water heater for your money.

If you need a new water heater don’t forget to look into some highly efficient alternatives for your next water heater replacement!   Tankless Water Heaters —  Heat Pump Water Heaters — Solar Water Heaters

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

So you can’t find your original paper work, or you just moved into a house, the water heater is leaking.  If it looks like it’s only a few years old, or even if it looks old & decrepit it may still be under warranty.

Before you buy a new one you definitely want to see if it’s under warranty.

I’m going to tell you what to do, but first  you need to know what kind of heater it is.
To properly identify your hot water heater get a pen & piece of paper and read this. (to take notes)

The model/ Serial codes.

Now that you know what kind of water heater you have, we need to find the warranty code.
The code is in the label on the outside of the water heater tank jacket, looking at the water heater from the front, it should be located slightly higher than half way up, above the safety warning and lighting instructions.  It may say Model number, or Serial number.   It should be about 12-16 charterers in length with a mix of numbers and letters. write down this code or codes, alone with the type of water heater info you gathered.

Now that you know what kind of water heater you have, and have written down the model/ serial number it’s time to figure out what it came from so you can call or go there with the information you now have.

Where your water heater came from.

If it’s a GE or a hot point water heater it was bought at your local home depot.

If it is a Whirlpool it was bought at the Lowes home improvement store.

Sears & Kenmore water heaters are from Sears.

Now if you live, own property, or plan on moving to Connecticut the rest of this information will very helpful,  for everyone else around the world not quite so much.

Rheem water heaters.

-Rheem water heaters bought in CT, are from Bender plumbing supply,  they have locations in New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, and West Hartford. check this link to see their website.

Bender Plumbing Supply of Bridgeport
Address- 395 James Street – Bridgeport, CT 06604    Phone: (203).579.4499 
Toll Free: (800).624.5586 info@benderplumbing.com
Hours: Monday-Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm  Saturday: 8:30am to 12:00pm

Bender Plumbing Supply of New Haven
Address-  550 Grand Avenue  New Haven, CT 06511     Phone: (203).787.4288  
Toll Free: (800).573.4288  info@benderplumbing.com   Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am to 7:00pm  Saturday: 9:00am to 12:00pm (Except July & August)

Bender Plumbing Supply of Hartford
Address: 197 Wawarme Avenue  Hartford, CT 06114  Phone: 860.233.6606  
Toll Free: 800.582.8999  info@benderplumbing.com
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30am to 5:00pm  Saturday: 8:30am to 12:00pm

Bender Plumbing Supply of Waterbury
Showroom Address: 30 Scott Road  Waterbury, CT 06705  Phone: 203.753.6884 
Toll Free: 800.755.8013   
Contractor and Counter help address. 145 Cherry street Waterbury, CT 06702
Phone: (203)756.8013 Hours: Monday-Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm  Saturday: 9:00am to 2:00pm


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State water heaters

State water heaters are from Lewin  & ABCO plumbing supplies.   Both companies are apart of  Plimpton Hills.

Fairfield Lewin supply
Address: Farifield, Lewin is located at 146 Kings highway East, Fairfield CT, 06824  Phone: (203)332-4273 
Hours M-T-W-F  9am – 5pm   Thursday  10am – 6ph.

Stamford ABCO
Address:  located in 1 research road, Stamford CT, 06906   Phone: (203)965.5959   Hours: Monday – Friday 9am – 4:30 pm.  Saturday- 8am – 11am.

Danbury
Address: 30 Federal Road Danbury CT, 06810 Phone: (203)743.9221 Hours: M-T-W-F 9am- 5pm
Thurs  10am-6pm   Sat 9am- 1pm

Hartford
Address: 2 brainard rd, Exit 27 off 1-91   Hartford CT, 0611  Phone: (860) 522.4233
Hours: Mon-Wed-Fri 9am-5pm / Tues 10am- 5pm  /Thurs 11am 8pm  Sat 8:30am- 1pm

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Bradford White water heaters.

Bradford White water heaters are from White’s Plumbing
Address:  582 Boston Post Road (Route 1) West Haven CT,
Phone: (203)934.9258  Toll Free:(800)231.6114  Email:info1@whitesplumbing.com
Hours: M-T-W-F 8am – 6pm.  Th 8am- 8pm   Sat 8am- 5pm.

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Lochinvar water heaters

Lochinvar water heaters can be bought at Commercial Heating Supply Company
Address:  Stratford, CT (headquarters)   Phone:  1-800-777-4328
Address:  East Hartford, CT    Phone:  1-888-460-8705

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This is  map of all real plumbing store locations in this story.                        
Not the home improvement stores.

Need a new water heater replacement and live in Connecticut?  Let us handle all that non-sense for you!

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

I’ve had some talks with other plumbers about dielectric unions, it seems that nobody agrees whether or not they are necessary.  We use them on our water heater installations because they only cost 8 bucks for the pair, and if they don’t help they certainly don’t hurt.

I have searched a bunch of web sites and spoken to  to find information on whether or not Dielectric Unions are really necessary when two different metal pipes meet, and found many stories about them,  but  the problem is it’s conflicting.

What are dielectric unions?

dielectric unions

Description:

Dielectric Unions are used in commercial and residential applications to prevent accelerated corrosion and deterioration in the piping system due to galvanic and stray current. It is installed between pipes made from dissimilar metals, and features a female iron pipe thread to solder connection. It consists of a union nut, two tailpieces, and a gasket that separates the tailpieces to prevent an electric current from occurring. Series 3001A is ideal in applications such as hot water storage tanks, water and air conditioners, processing tanks, steam, gas, and water piping. Their  maximum operating pressure is 250psi

“Dielectric Unions are used in commercial and residential applications to prevent accelerated corrosion and deterioration in the piping system due to galvanic and stray current”.   But what is that you ask?

If you recall from chemistry class, two dissimilar metals, when placed in an acidic solution, will create a battery.

And one of  the two metal supply pipes on your water heater will usually erode away as the chemical reaction progresses.  The other metal will usually have a buildup of new material, which is a chemical combination of the eroded metal and the acid. This build up reduces the ability of the water to flow threw the tank properly, and will break off and enter the water heater.

Since virtually all domestic water is slightly acidic or slightly basic, this electro-galvanic action can occur in any metal plumbing system, but water heaters with well water systems especially need to be protected from  this corrosion that will from on the top of the water heater feed and return lines.

When copper/brass/ galvanized steel pipes are connected together directly, the “battery like charge” has a path for electrical current to flow. (This current is tiny, and the voltage is not safety hazard in any way.)

If the current cannot flow, because there is no electrical connection (interrupted by the plastic insulators in the dielectric unions) then the “battery” never discharges thus the metals do not erode.

This electro-galvanic action is called electrolysis and in time it will eat pin holes in copper pipe. Dielectric Unions are insurance and well worth the money.  When properly installed there is no reason to worry about leaks, and they make future water heater replacements much easier.

Most new water heaters will have dielectric inserts on the feed and return line, but dielectric unions are another good line of  defensive against corrosion and permanently  needing a water heater replacement.

As you can see here in this picture below we have installed a pair of
dielectric unions on a new 50 gallon electric Rheem water heater.

dielectric unions on a water heater

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

Hot Water Danger!

Every year, thousands of people in the U.S.A. suffer serious thermal shock  or scalding injuries in their bathtubs, sinks and showers. This problem doesn’t happen to often with traditional water heaters, but indirect water heaters, and booster (any kind of storage tank running off of the boiler) can cause serious problems.   Boilers in the warm months will only go up to about 120 degrees and the water most likely won’t get hot enough to burn you, however in the winter/ cold months the boilers internal temperature will be at least 140 up to 180 degrees to meet the heating demands!  If you don’t have a thermostatic mixing valve installed on your indirect water heater, the water flowing threw your house could be the same as the boiler.  Meaning in the winter months you will have 140 – 180 (scalding hot water) coming out of your shower heads, and faucets.  This is a big safety issue for babies,children, seniors, and everyone that has a central never systems for that matter!!!

Problem: Thermal Shock

Thermostatic Mixing Valve

Often, injuries in the shower are caused by slips and falls in reaction to a sudden increase in water temperature.  Ideally, if the supply of cold or hot water is lost, the water flow should be shut down immediately. Termination of flow would eliminate the instinctive but dangerous reaction to move quickly away from a too hot or too cold water stream.

Solution:
Watts Thermostatic Mixing Valves maintain and limit mixed hot water to desired, selectable temperature, helping to minimize thermal shock.

Problem: Scalding

More than 90% of scalding incidents occur in the home. The tender skin of very young children and the slow reaction time of the elderly and the handicapped make them most vulnerable to serious hot water burns.Scalding injuries are tremendously painful, and the effects can last for years. Scalding occurs for a variety of reasons. In some cases, water heater thermostats are faulty, or set too high. In others, temperature regulating valves at the domestic hot water source are either malfunctioning or missing altogether. Water heaters are normally set to temperatures above 131°F (55°C) to prevent development of harmful bacteria, such as Legionella, in the water supply. Water at temperatures above 106°F (41°C) are painful. At a temperature of 131°F (55°C), a child can be scalded in less than 4 seconds.

Solution:
Watts Thermostatic Mixing Valves maintain and limit the mixed hot water to a desirable selectable temperature, helping to prevent scalding injury.

How Thermostatic Mixing Valves Work.

When a faucet is opened for warm or hot water, a thermostat in the mixing chamber of the valve senses the outlet temperature. The thermostat automatically positions a seat assembly which controls the flow of hot and cold water supplied to the mixing chamber. If the mixed outlet temperature increases, the thermostat will expand moving the seat assembly to allow the cold water inlet port to open more fully and at the same time restricting the hot water inlet port. Conversely, if the mixed outlet temperature decreases, the thermostat will contract moving the seat assembly to allow the hot water inlet port to open more fully and at the same time restricting the cold water inlet port. In both cases the mixed outlet water temperature is automatically and continually maintained at the preset temperature within the tolerances of the valve. In the event of a cold or hot water supply failure, the seat assembly moves to an extreme position shutting off the hot or cold inlet water port. A mechanical adjustment and key permits selection of the desired outlet water temperature within range of the valve.

Indirect water heater with a Thermostatic mixing valve

In the picture on the right is thermostatic mixing valve installed on a indirect water heater.

A thermostatic mixing valve costs about a 100 dollars.  For a good one such as any mixing valve made by the Watts company.

I don’t know if their is such a thing as a cheep mixing valve , because I never bought tried to buy one.  Risking  the safety of children over trying to save 20 -40 bucks is a isn’t something I’m ever going to do, and you  shouldn’t either.  When buying a mixing valve, make sure it is  made of solid brass,  from a company that’s been on the block for a few years.  Warranties are always great to have too.  Whether you will ever need it or not, warranties show me that the manufacture stands behind their products, so look for one.

Do you need a plumber?  If you live in Connecticut just give contact us a call and we’ll be over in an hour or so!

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.