Tankless water heaters. Tankless water heaters do not heat and store water in a central tank like conventional water heaters. Instead, the water is heated as it passes through a series of gas burners or electric coils. A conventional water heater wastes energy by continuing to heat water that is not immediately used. Since a tankless unit heats the water directly, it can help reduce energy costs and consumption. If sized and operated properly, tankless water heaters can also provide an endless supply of hot water. To find the right water heater for your home, it is important to consider the intended applications and the unit's flow rate and temperature-raising capability.
Thermal expansion tanks. Water enclosed in a fixed space increases in pressure as its temperature rises. By design, a typical home's plumbing system is such a space while the plumbing is not in use. As hot water is used, the water heater refills with cold water, and the cold water is gradually heated. If no other parts of the plumbing system are used while the cold water is being heated in the water heater, the pressure in the home's plumbing system will increase. To avoid a dangerous pressure level, plumbing codes require a device to control thermal expansion. A thermal expansion tank is usually the preferred option, because it relieves pressure without wasting water. This tank contains a flexible membrane and a compressible air cushion designed to deform under excessive pressure, thus maintaining pressure at a moderate level.
Pressure-reducing valves. A pressure-reducing valve is a bell-shaped device often located in the water supply line at some point between the high-pressure street main and the water lines in the house. Many municipal water systems carry twice as much pressure as is required by the typical house. Because household plumbing is not designed to handle the excess pressure, the pressure-reducing valve is very important. A defective pressure-reducing valve can result in water hammer — a banging sound heard immediately after flowing water is turned off — or cavitation, which is a squeling sound heard when water flows through a partially closed squealing. A defective valve could also result in a burst pipe or pipe fitting. Testing the house's water pressure identifies any problems with the pressure-reducing valve.
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