What Are the Different Types of Water Heater Setups in an Office?

When working in an office, it’s easy to forget about everything that goes on behind the scenes to keep the building working properly. For example, when you turn on the faucet for some hot water, you expect warm water to start flowing within a matter of moments. But what if it doesn’t? There are different types of water heater setups in office buildings, so let’s take a look at the basics in this article.

Of course, to deal with any kind of water heater problem in your office, calling in a commercial plumber like Varney Inc. is your best bet. Varney brings years of experience, a professional team to every job.

Start with the Power Source

It obviously requires energy to warm up water to an appropriate temperature to serve an office building. The various types of water heater setups in an office can be powered in different ways, including the following options –

• Gas water heaters. The natural gas or propane that serves a building can be used to warm up the water supply. Natural gas is commonly used for residential water heaters, and it can be used in commercial applications, as well.
• Electric water heaters. In some buildings, it will be the electrical power supply, rather than the gas line, that is used to heat up the water.
• Oil-fired water heaters. Finally, some commercial facilities are served by oil-heated units instead of gas or electric.

The source of energy that is used by your existing water heater will largely determine your options for what kind of repair or replacement can be completed. Working with a commercial plumber like Varney will help you sort through the options and determine the best course of action.

On-Hold or On-Demand?

One of the biggest differences in various water heater systems is whether the system creates hot water and holds it until it’s used, or if the system creates that hot water on demand. The first option is known as a storage tank water heater, or just a tank water heater. As the name suggests, water is warmed and held in a large tank until someone turns a faucet to access the supply.

On the other end of the spectrum, a tankless water heater creates hot water on demand. When a hot water faucet is turned open, the system will jump into action and quickly heat the water that is flowing toward the tap. Tankless water heaters can be either gas or electric, and they are often more efficient since they only heat up water when it is needed.

The Right Capacity

If purchasing a new commercial water heater, perhaps the most important point of all is capacity. The heater needs to serve your entire building properly, so it can’t be undersized or underpowered for the job at hand. It’s important to consider not only the size of the building that is being served but also the amount of hot water that building is expected to use on an average day. The experts at Varney can help with any commercial plumbing challenge, so contact the team today for assistance.