A: Water heaters were traditionally simple, similar to a pot with a flame under it, but manufacturers now use sophisticated electronic components that make increased efficiencies possible. This has also increased the need for specialized service technicians.

A: We work with certified service providers trained specifically on the equipment we provide. This means they can troubleshoot equipment more efficiently because they know just what to look for, resulting in less down time for you. Perhaps more important, parts and equipment are available at a moment's notice, so you can get up and running as quickly as possible. Access to our experience and services has allowed one of our customers, a major property manager, to reduce overhead by operating with one less maintenance person.

A: Accurate sizing is critical to proper system performance. Improper sizing can cause heaters to fail prematurely, either from running too frequently or not enough. If you have hot water, but find that you tend to run out during peak times when demand is high, the issue may be due to improper sizing. In restaurant applications, proper heater sizing is crucial because running out of hot water can quickly become a heath code violation. Insufficient hot water in a hotel or apartment complex can lead to unhappy guests and tenants. An accurately sized water heater will be capable of producing an ample supply of hot water (at least 120F) to all equipment and fixtures that demand it, at all times. The original sizing survey must take into account any and all fixtures (sinks, dishwashers, showers, etc.) that will demand hot water during peak performance times (morning showers, weekend dinner rush, Sunday brunch, etc.) and how quickly the water needs to recover. The evaluation will take into account:

• Dump Load or Peak Load: The amount of water needed immediately.
• Recovery Rate / First Hour Delivery: The time it takes for the heater to get back up to temperature, usually expressed as the amount of water in gallons that can be raised 100F in one hour, expressed in gallons per hour.
• Flow Rate: Expressed in gallons per minute, it measures how much hot water flows through a plumbing fixture or pipe over a given period of time.

If you aren't getting enough hot water, call us to get connected with one of our sizing specialists.

A: The boxed heaters you can find at local retail stores are usually residential-rated units, not commercial. If you install a residential-rated unit in a commercial facility, insurance coverage can become null and void if the equipment in place doesn't have an appropriate rating. There may be a limited selection of commercial units available, but without a proper evaluation of your facility's needs, buying retail could lead to improper sizing. For example, installing an atmospheric unit in a location with negative air pressure could lead to potential safety hazards. Installing it without a fire-rated room could invalidate insurance coverage or bring fines for code violations. In addition, you run the risk of poor heater performance because the use of improperly sized units can result in either running out of hot water or consuming too much energy, both of which waste money.

A: With Reliable Water Services, a simple phone call any time of day or night connects you to a team of experts who are trained to troubleshoot problems quickly, assuring an absolute minimum of downtime. We use a dedicated group of certified contractors and suppliers to assure timely and accurate service and replacement for our customers. When you work with us, there's no need to worry about finding a properly trained plumber at a moment's notice; one who can also quickly obtain parts and equipment on an emergency basis. We take care of your emergency while you take care of your business.

A: There are many money-saving attributes in new equipment choices, including higher energy efficiencies. We offer a free, no-obligation evaluation of your needs followed by specific recommendations that will include any available rebates. If a new heater is needed, we have affordable monthly payments that help you meet the hot water demands of your business and achieve the savings a new piece of equipment can provide.

A: While the cost of equipment increases with a high-efficiency unit, the amount of money saved on energy costs may outweigh the equipment cost differential. Standard atmospheric water heaters have an efficiency rating of about 80 percent. So, 20 cents out of every dollar in energy costs is literally going out the chimney. High-efficiency sealed combustion units have an efficiency rating of 95 percent or more, reducing the lost amount by over 25 percent. However, not all applications are suitable for this type of heater.

A: In addition to providing you with a better quality of water, conditioned water saves you money on multiple levels:

• Soft water can reduce your energy consumption by up to 30 percent, which can add up to significant savings by the end of the year. According to a study commissioned by the Water Quality Research Council and conducted at New Mexico State University, water heaters operating with hard water consume between 22 to 30 percent more energy than those that use soft water.
• When hard water is heated, all of the minerals associated with hardness are precipitated out and deposited throughout the entire plumbing system. With conditioned water, those minerals are removed from the equation. Because conditioned water doesn't leave mineral deposits behind to clog up your system, conditioning dramatically increases the life of your plumbing fixtures, sinks, valves and pipes, as well as any water-using equipment (water heaters, dishwashers, laundry machines, etc.).
• Soft water reduces the amount of soaps and detergents used in washing. When cleaning agents don't have hardness minerals to react with and fight against, they lather more readily and work effectively using less product.
• Conditioned water also provides noticeably whiter linens, cleaner parts and spotless glassware and flatware, reducing the need for hand work.

A: City water suppliers are not required to soften the water and consequently city water is only purified enough to make it safe for drinking - not treated to remove minerals (hardness), or fully filtered to remove all dissolved impurities. It is however, mandated that your City make water purity and hardness test results available to you. You can call the number listed on your water bill to get that information. Soft water has 0 grains of hardness, measured in Grains per Gallon (GPG), which can only be achieved by using a softening system. Any number above this would be considered hard water. Typically 1 to 3 GPG is relatively soft water. A score above 3 GPG should be conditioned for optimal results, and anything measuring 10 GPG or above is considered to be very hard water. In addition to conditioning equipment, filtration equipment to remove the dissolved impurities from the water is also available, resulting in cleaner drinking water.