The Complete Handbook of Water Heater Accessories

This handbook is clearly well-researched and thorough, but it's written for people who already know their way around a water heater. I'm a homeowner with basic plumbing knowledge, and I found myself looking up terms in Chapter 1 that weren't explained until Chapter 9. That said, once I got past the steep learning curve, the expansion tank troubleshooting section saved me a service call. I'd recommend it, just know it's not a beginner's guide.

Finally, a reference that doesn't treat me like I'm shopping at a big-box store. The decision framework in Chapter 3 alone is worth the price—I used it to specify accessories for a retrofit job and caught three compatibility issues before installation. The only downside is there's minimal coverage of residential vs. commercial differences, but the core content is solid and genuinely useful.

I've been doing HVAC work for fifteen years, and I've picked up water heater knowledge piecemeal from manufacturers and other techs. This handbook filled in gaps I didn't even know I had, especially around pressure relief valve sizing and water chemistry effects on accessory lifespan. Chapter 5 on maintenance and troubleshooting is my new go-to reference. The only thing missing is more real-world failure photos, but the descriptions are clear enough.

The book is technically accurate and well-organized, but I wish it went deeper into the business side. Chapter 6 touches on service opportunities, but there's not enough detail on pricing models or how to build a sustainable accessory replacement program for a service business. Still, it's a solid technical foundation that I'll keep on my desk.

This is exactly what I needed. I'm a property manager overseeing fifteen residential units, and I've always relied on my plumber to tell me what accessories I need and why. This handbook gave me the knowledge to understand his recommendations, ask intelligent questions, and even catch one overspecification that would have wasted money. Chapter 2 on types and specifications is crystal clear, and Chapter 3's decision framework is genuinely practical. Highly recommend if you're in a similar situation.

I'm a plumbing contractor, and I've recommended this to my techs because it's rare to find a reference that explains not just what to do, but why it matters. The troubleshooting section in Chapter 5 has saved us time on callbacks—we can now diagnose valve failures and pressure issues faster and more accurately. The business opportunities chapter gave me ideas for expanding our service offerings too. This is the kind of book that pays for itself the first week you have it.