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Winter snow has finally give way to spring rains, and here in the New Jersey area, that means spring renovation and cleaning is underway in many households. In between the dusting, vacuuming and checking on various household appliances, take time to give your water heater a look. Water heaters do their jobs quietly and without fuss, and since they’re often located in out-of-the-way locations like the basement or garage. But that can make it very hard to notice signs of trouble, and by the time symptoms show up, it could very well be too late. Spring cleaning makes an excellent opportunity to give your water heater a close look and see if it needs some attention.

THE BASICS

The basics for water heaters entail a basic examination to look for any symptoms of trouble. These can include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Puddles around the base of the water heater can indicate a serious problem, or something more pedestrian such as a leak in a pipe fitting. Either way, it’s a problem that a trained plumber should take a look at.
  • Strange noises. Gurgling, humming and other noises can indicate a number of issues, ranging from build-up on the bottom of the tank to trouble with the pressure relief valve.
  • Trouble with hot water. This doesn’t necessarily need any formal checking to confirm. But if you’re not getting sufficiently heated water, if the hot water cuts out sooner than you’d expect, or even if the water is too hot, you may need to have a plumber look at the system.
  • The pilot light. Older water heaters may still use a pilot light, and if yours is one of them, you should check it to make sure it’s lit.

If you encounter an issue with your water heater, in most cases, you should call in a plumber rather than attempting to fix the problem yourself.

FLUSH IT OUT

One place you can help your water heater along is by flushing it out, which can help get rid of sediment built up on the bottom of the tank as well as reducing overall wear and tear. You only need a bucket (or similar receptacle) for the water and a length of hose. Follow the steps below:

  1. Shut off the gas or electrical power to the water heater, as well as the main water line into the tank. You may want to give the water in the tank time to cool after you do so.
  2. Connect a hose to the tank’s drain valve and place the other end in the bucker or (if possible) a drain line in the house.
  3. Open the pressure relief valve and allow the water to drain out.
  4. When the tank is about one-quarter full, turn the water line back on to flush any sediment out of the bottom.
  5. Turn off the cold water line again, close the pressure relief valve, detach the hose from the drain valve, close the valve and allow the tank to fill back up.
  6. Turn the gas or electricity back on.

Call BZ Dependable Plumbing & Heating Inc. for water heater service in Bergenfield, NJ.

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Hot water is a necessity in every home, and most of us are accustomed to counting on the traditional tank water heater model for doing the job. But they’re not the only model out there, and an alternate system, such as a tankless water heater system, may be a better fit for your home. Englewood, NJ has a number of different types of home from a number of different eras, and the families inhabiting those homes have unique needs that might be better served by a tankless water heating system.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

As you may have guessed, tankless water heaters operate without the use of the tall cylindrical tanks most of us associate with water heaters. Tank models heat the water in the tank, then distribute it to your outlets when you need it. It’s a reasonably efficient system, though you waste a certain amount of energy  just keeping the system functioning. Tankless systems, on the other hand, use heated coils to warm the water instantly as it passes through the pipes. It costs more to install, but usually costs less to run, and because you’re heating the water “on demand,” you never need to worry about running out of hot water.

WHO BENEFITS?

Tankless water heaters are usually sized for a specific workload and don’t do well if they are over-taxed. Accordingly, they work best in homes with smaller families who aren’t as inclined to put a lot of strain on the system. In addition, tankless water heaters are recommended for vacation homes and similar spots: places that sit unused for portions of the year, and which can create problems such as mold or bacteria in traditional tank models.

The experts at BZ Dependable can discuss your tankless options with you, and perform quality installation and repair. 

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The water heater is one of the most important appliances in your Bergen County, NJ home. Yet because they do their jobs so quietly, potential problems can be overlooked until they’re bad enough to cause some serious damage. you can help you own cause first by scheduling an annual water heater maintenance session from your friendly professional, and then by flushing it yourself 2-4 additional times a year.

Why flush your water heater? Because sediment builds up on the bottom of the tank over time, insulating the water from the heat source and increasing strain on the system. That’s the bad news. the good news is that flushing the heater requires only a garden hose, a convenient drain (or bucket large enough to hold the water), and the following instructions:

  • Turn the heat source off to your water heater, then shut off the cold water line leading into the tank.
  • Attach one end of the hose to the drain valve in the bottom of the tank. Attache the other end of the hose to a drain or suitably large bucket.
  • Open the drain valve, then open the pressure relief valve at the top of the water heater.
  • Allow the water to drain.
  • Turn on the cold water line and allow the tank to rinse several times to make sure all of the sediment is washed out.
  • Close the pressure relief valve.
  • Close the drain valve and detach the hose, then allow the tank to refill.
  • Reignite the heat source (if it’s gas) or restore power to the system (if it’s electrical).
  • Wait at 15-20 minutes least before using the hot water. (The system will need time to warm it up properly.)

BZ Dependable knows how important your water heater is, and we provide top-notch service like water heater repair or water heater installation to homes and commercial spaces throughout the area. Give us a call today!

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Bergenfield, NJ residents have to deal with a number of recurring problems with their plumbing, including hard water deposits which are a regular issue around here. The good news is that hard water is rarely harmful. It’s simply water with a higher-than-average mineral content, usually safe minerals like calcium and magnesium that your body can absorb safely. But hard water can cause considerable problems with your quality of life and your plumbing in subtle, but no less damaging ways.

A whole-house water softener installed in your plumbing system can curtail those problems and ensure they never bother you again. Here are 3 benefits to water softeners that you should consider. 

plumber performing water softener maintenance on water heater in Bergenfield

1. CLEANER DRINKING WATER

We like to perform a quick experiment to demonstrate how a water softener can clean your water. Fill an ice tray with water from your tap, then fill a second one with bottled water from the store. When the ice freezes, you can see how much cloudier the faucet water is. A water softener will change all of that, making drinking water taste better as well as improving the taste of food cooked with it.

2. SOFTER SHOWERS

A water softener will help remove that crusty white build-up on your faucet or shower head. But it will also make your showers more pleasant, eliminating the red raw feeling you may experience and helping you feel cleaner and more refreshed when you’re done.

3. BRIGHTER CLOTHES

Hard water has perhaps its biggest impact on your laundry. It causes clothes to wear out faster than they should, and bright colors will fade if exposed to load after load of hard water. With a water softener, your clothes will look brighter and last longer, helping you stretch your household budget as well as keeping build-up from interfering with your washing machine.

Water softening is an easy and useful way to help prevent sediment build up in you water heater and to eliminate issues like those mentioned above. But water softeners should be used in moderation and can also lead to build up in your water heater. For information about how to properly maintain your water heater when using water softeners read our blog post “What’s Standard Maintenance for a Water Softener.” Call us at BZ Dependable Plumbing & Heating for more information on how water softener can benefit your daily life and your Bergenfield plumbing.

Call BZ Dependable for water softener installation in Bergenfield, NJ today.

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hot water heater teaneck

Spring is on its way again, which means that most households in the Teaneck, NJ area will be engaged in spring cleaning. In addition to the other tasks in your home – changing the sheets, cleaning the screens on your window and ordering maintenance for your heating system after the long winter – you should look into flushing your hot water heater.

(201) 837-6700

Sediment can build up in the bottom of the tank, forming a barrier between the water and the burners. Not only does it force your water heater to work longer in order to warm the water, but over time, it could severely damage the tank itself. Flushing the tank gets rid of the sediment and helps your water heater last longer. A technician will flush the tank as part of regular maintenance on your water heater, but you can do it yourself without too much difficulty. Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing so.

  • Turn off the gas or electrical power to your water heater at the breaker box or thermostat.
  • Shut off the water supply to the water heater by turning the water shut-off valve, usually located at the top of your tank. (In some cases, you may want to let the water in the tank cool overnight before moving forward.)
  • Open the hot water tap on your tub, faucet or shower.
  • Run a hose from the water heater to the water drain in your home, or into a bucket or similar receptacle.
  • Open the pressure release valve and allow the water to drain out of your system. Check the bucket for silt or sand if necessary.
  • Close the valve and turn the water back on, allowing the tank to fill back up.
  • Turn on the power to the water heater again.
  • Shut off the hot water valve in your faucet or shower once the water is flowing freely. Turn it on again in 30 minute to ensure that the water is hot again.

Teneck Water Heater Repair & Inspections

When it comes to Teaneck water heater repair, you need someone who can help you fast. No matter when your hot water heater goes out or your tank ruptures, we have you covered. 

We have serviced water heaters in the Teaneck and Bergen County area for many years, so we’ll get to the bottom of your water heater problem fast. Whether the problem is big or small, we’ll have the solutions you need to get your hot water back on in no time! What’s more, if your water heater is at the end of its life, we can provide fast and reliable Teaneck water heater installation too!

Call the pros at BZ Dependable, Inc. for help with your water heater!

(201) 837-6700

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The holidays are busy enough for residents of Bergen County, NJ without having to worry about trouble with the water heater. We never think about ours until problems arise, and the last thing you want is for an emergency to take place just when you’re sitting down to Christmas dinner or entertaining relatives from out of town. A good maintenance session from a trained professional can prevent such an occurrence, and you can help keep your water heater running this holiday season by taking a few simple steps.

  • Add Insulation. Water heater insulation, installed by a trained technician, will help it maintain its temperature much more easily, which means a lower monthly cost to heat your water and much less strain on the individual components of your system.
  • Keep the Area Clear. The area around your water heater should stay clear of boxes, furniture and other items in order to ensure that it continues to work the way it should. Ideally, there should be at least 2 feet of space between the water heater and anything else.
  • Drain the Tank. The tank of your water heater needs to be periodically drained in order to remove sediment from the tank. Otherwise it will build up in the bottom and creating an insulating barrier between the water and the burners designed to heat it. A technician can handle this as part of a regular service call.
  • Replace the Anode Rod. The anode rod is designed to keep the tank free of rust, and if it isn’t changed once every three years or so, the rust can build up at a surprisingly swift rate. You don’t need to replace your rod every time you maintain your water heater, but if the core wire is showing or if it’s looking a little thin (less than half an inch in diameter), you need to get a new one installed quickly.

BZ Dependable is here for all your water heater needs!

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