Natural Gas Hot Water Heaters

Natural gas hot water heaters are commonly used in European nations and the United States. Since natural gas is easily available at low costs in these countries, these water heaters have become very popular. The natural gas hot water heaters are of two types: the storage and the tankless heaters.

Gas Water Heaters

These water heaters work on the principle of convection. The water that enters the tank through the inlet is heated by a burner. Due to the heat, the water rises upwards and is taken out through the discharge pipe. The cold water supply to the tank is controlled by a 'shutoff valve'. The tank jacket of the heater is made from steel. The water storage tank is present within the jacket.

Natural Gas Hot Water Heaters

The most commonly used water heater in the US is the storage water heater. As the water enters the storage tank, it is heated with the help of a gas burner which uses natural gas as fuel. The hot water leaves the tank through the delivery pipe. If the temperature or pressure of the tank rises beyond a certain level, the relief valve helps in controlling it. Since the tank has to be maintained at a constant temperature throughout the day, the heat from the tank may be lost, even if the faucet is turned off.

The byproducts released from the natural gas burner pass through a flue, a chimney or a side-wall vent. Since the storage water heaters are free-standing, they can be installed at different locations in the house and even outdoors.

Tankless Gas Hot Water Heaters

Unlike storage heaters, the tankless water heaters are used to heat water instantaneously. The water here is not stored, but heated as soon as it is released from the faucet. When the water supply is stopped, the burner is turned off. Since there is no standby heat loss from these water heaters, 20-30 percent energy is saved in comparison to storage water heaters.

How to Install a Gas Hot Water Heater

In the installation of any water heater, the venting is an important point to be considered. The heaters should be installed such that the vent releases the combusted products outdoors. There are three types of vents available; the direct vent, side vent and power vent. For a family of four, a heater with a 40 gallon capacity is sufficient.

Start off the installation by connecting the vent to the chimney, followed by connecting the vent pipe to the heater. The tank should then be connected to the cold water supply. Then the gas line should be connected to the tank by joining it into the input valve. Water should be released first by opening the blue valve and then the red one. The blue valve is meant for cold water, while the red one is for hot water. The gas valve should be opened and turned to 'pilot'. This will ignite the burner. With the help of the thermostat, the temperature should be maintained at 120^oF.

Children should be taught to use the heater safely. If one is not sure about the temperature of the water, the hot water should be allowed to run for 3-5 minutes and then its temperature can be checked. Safety shut-off devices can be installed on the faucets to help protect children. Thus, following safety precautions is necessary to get better results from the heater.