The water heater in your home plays a critical role in a number of your daily activities. It drives many components in places such as your kitchen, bathroom, and even laundry room. Things such as insufficient time and pressure can cause any hot water heater to break down and require repair.
Let’s take a look at the most prevalent reasons a water heater may break down, how to fix them, and how to know when it is time to call an expert!
The Most Common Hot Water Heater Problems
The fact is, there are a great deal of things that could randomly fail. Luckily most issues fall under four of the following categories.
Water Temperature Level Issues
The entire point of having a hot water heater is to control the temperature of your water, so if that isn’t happening successfully, it is going to be a significant issue. Here’s a look at how to deal with different hot water heater temperature level issues.
Cold Water From Hot Tap
The most common cause here is the power source. Inspect your power switch and after that look for a tripped breaker or blown fuse. If this doesn’t solve the problem, you may have a damaged heating element or a bad thermostat and you will want to contact a water heater repair service, such as Murray Electric & Plumbing for service.
Warm however Not Hot Water From Hot Tap
Normally this suggests a problem with the heating element, thermostat, or the size of your hot water heater. There is also a possibility that there is a mix up in the hot and cold connections. In any case, you will want to call an expert plumbing professional for guidance.
Hot Water is Too Hot
Your thermostat is likely set too high (above 120 ° F). If you are not sure how to turn down the thermostat, consult your owner’s manual about your particular style of water heater.
Water Leaks
Water leaks can result in catastrophic damage if not caught and handled immediately. When it concerns plumbing of any kind, consisting of water heaters, there are a plethora of places and causes for leaks. A few of the most common are:
- Leaking water tank
- Bad gasket
- Leak from a plumbing connection
- Loose heating element bolts
- Overheating
- Stuck valve
- Faulty T&P relief valve
- Incorrect water pressure
To begin repairing the problem, look for loose connections and tighten them where possible (be careful to not over tighten them, as this could possibly create more leaks). Then check the heating element bolts, and tighten them if they are loose. If there is water coming from the heating element, the gasket will likely need to be upgraded, and you will need to call for a water heater repair expert. Last but not least check the water tank. If the tank itself is leaking, odds are you will require an entirely new tank, which will most definitely require a professional plumbing technician.
Discolored Water
Discolored water is caused by rust in the water supply. This is generally an indication that your tank is corroded. Contact a professional who may be able to fix the issue by changing the anode rod. Nevertheless, if this does not solve the issue you will need a whole brand-new water tank.
Unusual Sounds
Odd noises coming from your hot water heater are often triggered by an accumulation of sediment. You can flush your water heater tank (it’s a fairly simple Do It Yourself job), and this may resolve the problem. Nevertheless, if the sediment is too thick or the sound is coming from something else, it might be time to have your hot water heater changed.
New Hot Water Heater Installation
Considering many hot water heater problems come from owning a water tank, lots of homeowners are opting for tankless water heaters to avoid this obstacle. They are extremely effective and offer a continuous supply of hot water.
Whether you require water heater repair or decide on upgrading to a newer more efficient unit, the staff at Murray Electric & Plumbing are standing by to go over your options!