Commercial Water Heater Installation and Repair in Albuquerque, NM

Just like the water heater you use at home, a commercial water heater is subject to breakdown. While routine care and maintenance from an expert commercial plumbing company, like Rocketman Plumbing, can prolong the lifespan of your commercial water heater, there comes a time where it makes more sense to replace the unit rather than repair it.

There are two different types of commercial water heaters, and they vary widely in terms of their projected lifespan. If you have a tankless system at your business, you can expect it to last at least 20 years or longer. A water heater with a tank, on the other hand, only lasts around 10 years.

If you’re unsure of the age of your commercial water heater—or if the unit simply isn’t working as well as it should—there are some signs that indicate it’s approaching the end of its life. If your commercial water heater exhibits any of the following issues, call your trusted commercial plumber to determine whether replacement is the best option:

• No hot water
• Discolored water
• Leaks
• Loud noises

When you’re choosing a commercial water heater to support the needs of your business, BTU—or British Thermal Unit—is one of the most important considerations. This figure refers to the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of pure water by one degree Fahrenheit. In other words, BTU represents a water heater’s burner capacity, or how much heat it can generate hourly.

The BTU measurement of a water heater determines its recovery rate, or the number of gallons of water it can heat per hour depending on the starting and ending water temperatures. Most water heaters measure this rate by assuming a starting temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and an ending one of 140 degrees Fahrenheit—a 100 degree rise in temperature.

You need to select a water heater that supports the demands of your business, so calculating the BTU you need is essential. Here’s a simple way to calculate this figure:

BTU= Flow Rate in Gallons-Per-Minute x (Ending Temperature – Starting Temperature) x 500.4

Need help sizing a new commercial water heater? Reach out to the commercial plumbing experts at Rocketman Plumbing. We’ll help you select the best option that supports the day-to-day needs of your business.

Like any major appliance, a commercial water heater is prone to breakdowns over time. While keeping up with routine maintenance can keep the need for repairs to a minimum, there are times where business owners need an expert fix that only a trusted commercial plumbing company can provide.

While the price to repair a commercial water heater depends on the scope of work and materials involved, a typical repair can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1,000. Often, investing in a repair makes more sense than purchasing and installing a new unit. If your commercial water heater’s exhibiting signs of a problem, like discolored water, leaks or loud noises—or if it isn’t producing any hot water at all, call the team of commercial plumbing experts at Rocketman Plumbing to diagnose and treat the issue in the most efficient and affordable way possible.

While the exact cost of a new commercial water heater depends on the size you need to support the demands of your business, you can expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $2,000 (and more) for a new tank water heater. That figure increases when you opt for a tankless water heater, but you’ll make up for the upfront cost in the long-term in the form of significant energy savings.

Commercial tankless water heaters generally cost from $2,500 to $4,500. These systems are much more energy efficient than water heaters with tanks. Not only will you save on your monthly energy bills when you upgrade to a tankless system, but you’ll also enjoy reliable on-demand hot water.

If you keep up with routine maintenance to ensure your commercial tankless water heater stays in excellent shape, you can count on your investment lasting twice as long as a cheaper, tank-based model. In general, tank systems last 10 years, while tankless systems can last 20 years or longer. Commercial tankless water heaters are very long-lasting, so you won’t have to replace the unit as quickly.