Hot Water Systems and
Home Inspections

Performing Home Inspections at this time risks spreading COVID-19 and places people at risk. Heimer Engineering will not be performing pre-purchase Home Inspections until it can do so without risk to the public.

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In keeping with Governor Cuomo's announcements, Heimer Engineering℠ has stopped performing home inspections.

We are aware our phone system is not functioning properly. Repair resources are directed to essential services.

The hot water system is checked as part of a Professional Engineer's home inspection. In residences (homes, condos, and co-ops) the hot water is used for bathing and cleaning. In some buildings, the hot water serves to sterilize equipment that is used by the general public.

Besides comfort, hot water serves a vital role in maintaining good health. To serve this role, the hot water must be produced at an appropriate temperature.

Most homes, buildings, condos, and co-ops have a tankless hot water heater, a hot water heater with a storage tank, a hot water booster tank, or an indirect-fired hot water heater.

Our Professional Engineers evaluate the hot water system in the home or building you are considering purchasing and advises you if it is sufficient. You are also advised of the need to budget for upcoming replacement of the hot water heater.

The expense analysis in the engineering report helps you understand the expenses involved in repairing or replacing the hot water system.

Energy Star Hot Water

Hot Water Temperature

In homes, buildings, condo units, and co-op units, the temperature of the hot water should be around 120 degrees Fahrenheit, although some dishwasher manufacturers recommend 130 degrees Fahrenheit to assure that the dishes will be properly cleaned and sterilized. In homes, buildings, condos, and co-ops, the temperature of the hot water should be around 120 degrees Fahrenheit, although some dishwasher manufacturers recommend 130 degrees Fahrenheit to assure that the dishes will be properly cleaned and sterilized. Lower temperatures are recommended by others to reduce the risk of scalding and reduce energy consumption. A lower temperature, however, increases the risk of bacteria growth.

Hot water that would scald in seconds at 140 degrees Fahrenheit will take minutes to cause the same level of injury at less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Many hot water systems produce hot water at well over 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

The risk of scalding or serious burns, especially to children and elderly people, is high. When possible, our Professional Engineers measure the hot water temperature and advises you of hazards.

Click here for information on preventing scalding hot water injuries to children.

Hot Water Heater
Life Expectancy

Hot water heater life expectancy varies dramatically depending on the type of hot water heater. A tankless hot water heater can last as long as the heating system in which it is mounted, although effectiveness may diminish over time. An automatic storage hot water heater, hot water booster tank, or an indirect-fired hot water heater typically lasts from seven to 15 years. Our Professional Engineers evaluate the hot water system, and advises you of remaining life expectancy.

Tankless Hot
Water Heaters

A tankless hot water heater heats the water by circulating it through coils inside a boiler. As the water circulates through the coils, it is heated.

Tankless hot water heaters may suffer from performance problems, especially as they age. Many systems start out at an initial temperature hot enough to scald. After running for a short time, this hot temperature may fall to a relatively low temperature. To help overcome this problem, many people install hot water booster tanks in conjunction with a tankless hot water heater.

A variation of the tankless hot water heater is the instant hot water heater, sometimes called the demand hot water heater. In an instant hot water heater, water passes over a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is kept warm, usually by a gas flame or electric coil.

Hot Water Booster Tanks

A hot water booster tank works in conjunction with a tankless hot water heater. Most hot water booster tanks are small hot water heaters. The water is pre-heated in the tankless hot water heater. The heated water than circulates into the hot water booster tank. The hot water booster tank stores the hot water, and warms it if necessary. This increases the amount of available hot water, although at the cost of greater energy consumption. Often, hot water boosted booster tanks are electric, which makes them expensive to operate.

Hot Water Heaters
With Storage Tanks

When many people say hot water heater, they are typically referring to a single unit that both heats and stores the water. This type of unit is sometimes called an automatic storage hot water heater. This type of unit must have some method of heating the water (typically oil, gas, or electricity) along with a tank to store the heated water.

The size of the storage tank is typically between 30 and 120 gallons, depending on the type of fuel used and the amount of hot water needed. Our Professional Engineers evaluate both the fuel and the hot water demands to determine if the hot water heater is sufficient in size.

Indirect-Fired
Hot Water Heaters

An indirect-fired hot water heater consists of a storage tank, a circulator pump, and a boiler that serves as a heat source. The boiler (and the water is contains) is kept hot. When the storage tank of hot water falls below a certain temperature, an aquastat activates the circulator pump. The boiler-heated water is circulated through coils in the hot water storage tank.

This process heats the water in the storage tank. The water heated in the boiler never contacts the water in the storage tank.

In the Metro New York area (with its half-year heating season), an indirect-fired hot water heater might be less expensive to operate than a separate hot water heater. In addition, during very cold days the boiler may not be able to heat the house and produce hot water simultaneously.

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Applying Scientific and Engineering Principles and Common Sense to Home Inspection and Building Inspections

Contact Heimer Engineering℠

Call Heimer Engineering℠ for a Home Inspection Heimer Engineering℠ has stopped performing home inspections in accordance with Governor Cuomo's order. We cannot provide any information as to when home inspections will resume and cannot provide fee information.

Clients with questions and Attorneys with personal injury questions can email PE@heimer.com.

Heimer Engineering℠ serves the Greater New York area, including New York City (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island), Long Island (Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Upstate New York (Rockland County, Putnam County, and Westchester County).

Heimer Engineering℠ respects your privacy. Some home inspection firms share information with insurance, landscaping, home maintenance, moving, cable, mortgage, and other companies. You will not receive phone calls or solicitation emails from third parties as a result of providing Heimer Engineering℠ with personal information. For more information, see Heimer Engineering's℠ Privacy Policy.

🚑 🚒 🚓 In the event of a life-threatening emergency call 911. Emergency situations need to be handled by first-responders who can evacuate buildings, shut utilities off, and take other steps necessary to preserve life.

Standards of Practice
and Code of Ethics

Heimer Engineering's℠ Professional Engineer Home Inspectors substantially adhere to the InterNACHI® Code of Ethics, to Subpart 197-4 of the State of New York Code of Ethics and Regulations for Home Inspectors, the ASHI® Standards of Practice, and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE®) Code of Ethics. In the event of a conflict, the Professional Engineer Home Inspectors use Engineering judgment to decide what standard or Engineering principle takes precedence. All State of New York Licensed Professional Engineers are bound by New York State Education Law Article 145.

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Inspections are performed only after the client signs a Pre-Inspection Agreement. Use of this website is governed by our Terms of Use. This website is made available for informational purposes and does not represent a professional opinion of your situation.

Heimer Engineering PC℠ performs home inspections, building inspections, condo inspections, and co-op inspections in the State of New York. Expert witness services are provided regarding playground injuries, parking lot, walkway, and stairway slip, trip, and fall.

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Heimer Engineering℠ PC
PO Box 1078
Commack, New York, USA 11725-0942

Hot Water Systems andHome Inspections