Blog Layout

Understanding the Different Types of Water Heaters Available in St. Paul, MN

Admin • October 23, 2024

Stylish bathroom in Woodbury, MN, showcasing white walls and blue tiles. Water Heater Services provided by Master Plumbing Services, LLC.

When it comes to maintaining comfort in your home, reliable Water Heater Services are crucial. For homeowners in St. Paul, MN, understanding the different types of water heaters can make a significant difference in efficiency, cost, and convenience. This guide will explore the main options available, helping you make an informed decision for your home.

Conventional Tank Water Heaters

The traditional choice for many homeowners, conventional tank water heaters store and heat a specific amount of water in a large tank. Available in gas or electric models, these heaters typically range in size from 30 to 80 gallons. While they are often less expensive to install initially, they can incur higher energy costs due to heat loss from the tank. In St. Paul, where winter temperatures can plummet, this is an important consideration. If you’re considering installation or repair of a tank water heater, be sure to check out our Water Heater Services.

Tankless Water Heaters

If you're looking for a more modern option, tankless water heaters are a popular choice. These systems heat water on demand, providing a continuous supply without the need for a storage tank. They are more energy-efficient, as they only use power when you need hot water. While the initial investment is higher, many homeowners find that the long-term savings on energy bills justify the cost. Tankless water heaters can be a great fit for families with high hot water demands, making them a valuable option in busy households.

Heat Pump Water Heaters

For those seeking environmentally friendly options, heat pump water heaters are an excellent choice. They operate by transferring heat from the air or ground to heat the water, making them highly efficient. Although they require a larger upfront investment and a suitable installation environment, their energy savings can be substantial over time. Homeowners in St. Paul can benefit from this technology, especially when paired with a smart home system to optimize usage.

Solar Water Heaters

If you're looking to harness renewable energy, solar water heaters could be your best bet. These systems use solar panels to capture energy from the sun, heating water for your home. While they can significantly reduce your utility bills and environmental impact, they do require adequate sunlight exposure and a backup system for cloudy days. This option may be more suitable for homeowners looking to invest in long-term sustainability.

Understanding the different types of water heaters available can empower you to choose the right system for your home in St. Paul, MN. Whether you opt for a conventional tank model, a tankless system, a heat pump, or a solar solution, it’s crucial to consult with professionals for installation and maintenance. Our dedicated team offers comprehensive Water Heater Services to ensure you have the best system for your needs.

Ready to upgrade your water heater? Contact us today to explore your options and receive expert installation and repair services in Clarkstown, NY. Visit to learn more or call at (651) 457-7100!

< Older Post

Plumbing Works — Inver Grove Heights, MN — Master Plumbing Services

Tips for keeping your garbage disposal in tip top shape

By Admin • August 25, 2021

Always use cold water when grinding food. Hot water can soften built up greases and cause bigger issues down the road for the unit and the pipes into which it feeds. Continue running water after you have turned off disposal to make sure food debris is washed down the pipes. Avoid fibrous foods like banana peels, broccoli, asparagus, celery, corn husks and potato peels as they can get wrapped around the shredder ring (“blades”) and cause them to seize up. Avoid large amounts of starchy and water absorbing food like pasta, rice, oatmeal, and coffee grounds as they may cause clogs in your drain or pipes. Avoid grease and cooking oil in ALL of your sinks, not just your disposal! Avoid overly hard foods like bones, shellfish shells, and fruit pits. Even if your disposal has enough horsepower to handle them, your pipes may not be able to. Don’t use bleach or other harsh chemicals to clean your disposal. It can lead to damage of parts, not to mention it could splash up and get in your eyes once the disposal is turned on. Always disconnect power to the unit any time cleaning or maintenance is being performed, either by unplugging the disposal from the outlet under the sink, or turning off the disposal's breaker in your home's service panel (breaker box). Never stick your hands in the drain. Use a tool of some kind to remove clogs, retrieve whatever accidentally got dropped down there or to clear the shredder ring (blades). For odors, use warm water and lemon wedges with the peel on. Run the disposal like usual. The acid of the lemon neutralizes odors and the peel helps scrape any build up away. Another option is to put ½ to 1 cup of baking soda in your disposal and slowly pour in a similar amount of vinegar to create foaming. This will help with bacteria and odors. Cleaning your unit monthly can keep odors from developing. To clean, fill it up with ice cubes and a ½ to 1 cup of mild abrasive, such as rock salt or baking soda. You could also drizzle in dish soap if you wish. Run the disposal with very warm water. This will help “scrape” the sides and nooks where food particles can collect. You should also pull out and clean both sides of the rubber splash guard at this time to keep a gunky slime from forming. Be sure to run the water for 30 seconds after everything is washed down to keep it moving down your pipes. If your unit seems to be acting up or has completely stopped working, try the reset button before moving on to a service call. You can save yourself a lot of hassle and money if all it needed was to be reset. Even with the best of care, things break or fail. Average life expectancy of a disposal is 10-12 years with proper use and maintenance. If you think you need replacement of your garbage disposal, call Master Plumbing Services, your plumbing professionals in the Minneapolis, St. Paul and surrounding areas.

Fixing the Water Heater — Inver Grove Heights, MN — Master Plumbing Services

9 Signs That Your Water Heater May be Failing

By Admin • July 6, 2021

Is it Rusted? If you are noticing red or orange chips or dust around your tank or a metallic smell coming from your tank, it’s a sure sign of corrosion. The tank could be rusted both inside and out. There is no fixing corroded tanks and you should plan to replace your water heater as soon as possible. The floors are wet around the tank . If you are noticing water around the area of your tank, it could mean you have a slow leak. When water heaters warm water, they expand and if it’s old, it could crack during expansion, leading to leaks. Check around the fittings and connections for cracks while your water heater is warm. Report your findings to your plumber. Limited hot water production or lukewarm water . If this is happening it’s a pretty obvious sign that your water heater is declining or very close to failing and the internal mechanisms are likely going bad. Your water heater should not take extended periods of time to warm your water. You will probably have to replace it at this point. Odd or Loud noises are occurring . Hard water can be well, hard on appliances designed for the water in your home. If you have hard water, mineral deposits can gather in the bottom of your tank and solidify. A clanking noise could mean that the heating elements are interacting with debris. Flushing your system may help with this but if it doesn’t, you may have to replace your water heater. The pilot light is yellow . If you have a gas water heater, your pilot light should be blue. If it’s yellow it could indicate a dirty pilot tube or a problem with the airflow to the pilot light. If you are confident you can trouble shoot, you could try cleaning the tip of the pilot tube of debris and dirt yourself or call a professional to do it for you. Your water is cloudy or discolored . If you have discoloration it could be a sign of mineral buildup. Mineral buildup can lead to corrosion and leaks. Check your water heater tank for leaks and you should make an appointment with a professional if you find any leaks. Odd smells . If you are noticing your water heater has a strange smell coming from it, it could mean the adnode rod has worn down or broken off. You should make an appointment and a professional can determine what the right solution for your water heater is. The water tastes funny . This could indicate corrosion in the tank of your water heater or your pipes could be leaching iron into your water supply. Many older houses have lead pipes and lead leaking into your water supply can cause serious issues. Further, if you are tasting a “chemical” taste in your water, this could signal a discharge of chemicals has happened and has gotten into the local water supply. Please contact authorities if you taste chemicals. Old Water Heater . Most water heaters have a life span of 10 years. Anything beyond that is a blessing. If your old water heater is in good working order then you should be diligent about maintenance and inspections. You should however be on alert that a replacement could be right around the corner. The most important thing to remember is if you think you have an issue and aren’t confident you can trouble shoot it or fix it, you should always call a licensed professional to help you. This will ensure that you get a correct diagnosis and repair.