800.605.1500
Home, Building, Condo, And
Co-op Engineering Inspections
:-) We Are Happy To Help You

Hot Water System Inspections

Pre-Purchase Inspection
Insight Only An Engineer Offers

Home, Building, Condo, and Co-op Inspections
in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx,
Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland,
Putnam, and Westchester

An Engineer's inspection, a home and building inspection, and a termite inspection. You receive four reports: an onsite verbal report, an onsite written report, an emailed written report, and a termite report. Call 800.605.1500 if you have questions. We are happy to help you. Smile

Click on the blue boxes to navigate through this website.

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.

The Engineers of Heimer Engineering 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 Heaters

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 Engineers measure the hot water temperature and advises you of hazards.

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 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. Heimer Engineering's Licensed 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.

Trust a Licensed Engineer to assess the hot water system.

Pre-Purchase Inspections

During the inspection, the Licensed Engineer examines, analyzes, and/or reports on (as appropriate based on the building):

Structural
System The
Foundation Heating
System Electrical
System Plumbing
System Hot Water
System Roofing
System Leaders &
Gutters The
Siding Termites
Carpenter
Ants Exterior
Trim Basement
Water Rotted
Wood Appliances
Air
Conditioning Windows
And Doors The
Interior Carbon
Monoxide Mold
Asbestos

Contact Heimer Engineering 24/7

We are happy to help you. To set up an appointment for a pre-purchase inspection, or to find out about Engineering services or expert court testimony, click below for a contact form, send us an email, text us at 6602 0091 55, or call 800.605.1500. If no staff member is in the office, leave a message. Remember to ask about a web discount.

➜ 24/7 Contact Information

Heimer Engineering serves the Metro 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 inspection firms share information with insurance, landscaping, home maintenance, moving, cable, mortgage, and other companies. Some inspection firms sell their client lists. These practices are unethical. You will not receive phone calls or solicitation emails from third parties as a result of providing personal information.

In the event of a life-threatening emergency (fire, building in danger of collapse, facade with loose bricks, debris falling from a building, gas leak, etc.) do not call Heimer Engineering. If there is a life-threatening emergency or other hazardous condition, call 911. Emergency situations need to be handled immediately by first-responders who can evacuate buildings, have utilities shut off, and take other steps necessary to preserve life.

Affiliations

Translate This Webpage

Using Google Translate, you can view this webpage in the language of your choice.
	Top of This Page

More Information

Inspections are performed only after the client signs a pre-inspection agreement. The 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 particular situation.

➜ Download A Pre-Inspection Agreement

Heimer Engineering performs home inspections, building inspections, condominium inspections, and co-op inspections in the State of New York. We do not perform inspections or recommend Inspectors or Engineers in the areas outside of the State of New York. We also provide Licensed Professional Engineer consultation services including hurricane and storm damage and damage from adjoining construction. Expert witness services are provided regarding playground injuries, parking lot, walkway, and stairway slip, trip, and fall.

Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor The website was designed by Harold Krongelb. Post design review was performed by Matthew John Rapisarda. Sitemaps and indexing information can be found at Page Sitemap, Image Sitemap, and Video Sitemap. Heimer Engineering's domains include www.heimer.com, www.expert-witness-ny.com, www.home-inspection-ny.com, www.professional-engineer.com, and www.home-inspection-engineer.com.

Heimer Engineering PC f/k/a Richard L Heimer PE PC
2171 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 230
Commack, New York, USA 11725-2947

New York Metro Area: 800.605.1500
Bronx, New York: 718.547.2000
Brooklyn, New York: 718.237.7777
Manhattan, New York: 212.563.4777
Nassau County, New York: 516.487.2100
Putnam County, New York: 845.638.4900
Queens, New York: 718.544.3000
Staten Island, New York: 718.227.5000
Suffolk County, New York: 631.858.5500, 631.549.2500, 631.288.3900
Westchester County, New York: 914.576.6100
Fax: 631.858.5599, 646.795.4571
Coordinates: 40.8439215, -73.2871259
URL: www.heimer.com
Email: Info@heimer.com

International Standard of Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) Revision 4 Classification: 71
North American Industry Classification System (SAISC) Classification: 541330, 541350