A water heater is simply an appliance used to warm up the water in your house. There’s quite a lot that happens behind the scenes to warm the water and get it to the taps. Many times, when the system doesn’t work as required, or it’s overworked, a problem develops, which has to be fixed professionally.
Problems with water heaters are inevitable because of how they are made and the constant interaction of water, heat, and other components. It’s advisable to get a professional to fix water heater problems. However, if you’re able to fix them yourself and you have the right tools, you can go ahead and do that. Remember to turn off the power always before you begin to troubleshoot the problems with your heater. Wallace Plumbing and Mechanical services, and other similar ones, is a reliable go-to option for water heater fixing.
Read through this article to learn about water heater problems and how they can be avoided and fixed.
- Water Temperature Issues
Water temperature issues arise in three ways: the water is either cold, warm but not hot enough, or too hot. The water is cold when there is no power, or the thermostat is faulty. You can fix this by replacing blown fuses and resetting tripped circuit breakers. Check the thermostat to ensure that it’s receiving power.
When the water is warm but not hot enough, the issue could be because the water heater is undersized, hot and cold-water connections are crossed, or the thermostat is faulty. In this case, you will need a professional to check whether the heater is appropriately sized and the heating elements.
Water becomes too hot when the thermostat is set too high. To fix this, check the heater’s manual on adjusting the temperature.
- Water Taking Too Long To Heat
The issue behind water taking too long to heat could be a result of faulty heating elements, thermostats, and sediment build-up on the parts. To fix the problem, ensure checking each item and replacing those that need the service.
- Leaks In The Water Heater
Leaks are dangerous as they can cause damage to the floor as well as the electrical components nearby. The leak can be fixed by tightening screws and pipe connections but remember to turn off the electricity first and let the device cool down before checking the problem. In case of too much leak, get a technician to fix the problem.
- Water That Has A Bad Smell
If the water from the heater has a bad smell, it could be because of bacteria in the water tank. You can fix that problem by flushing the tank with water that’s mixed with hydrogen peroxide. If the bad smell persists, you will need professional water heater plumbing.
- Water Heater Parts That Are Faulty
Water heaters are bound to fail at some point, either due to wear and tear or lack of maintenance. It’s essential to replace worn-out heating elements, thermostats, and other parts to prolong the water heater’s life. To improve overall performance, ensure flushing annually.
- Discolored Water
The release of dirty or rust-colored water is an indication that there’s rust or sediment build-up in the water tank. If this problem is unfixed, it causes corrosion, which brings about leakage. Replace the anode rod, which prevents rusting, and flush the water tank with water mixed with hydrogen peroxide.
- Produces Odd Sound
Odd noise comes due to rumbling, popping, and banging sounds made by the burning of sediments in the tank and malfunctioning of the heating elements. To fix the problem, you need to drain the tank, remove the sediments, and flush it. If the issue is severe, replace the tank.
- Failure Of Pilot To Light
This failure is either a result of the pilot light orifice blockage, loose or faulty thermocouple, air in the gas line, or a faulty gas valve. To fix the problem, replace the pilot.
- Poor Flow Of Water
It happens due to sediment build-up, which slows the water pressure. To fix this problem, drain the tank to remove the sediments. If the problem persists, get a professional to clean or replace the pipes around the water heater.
Conclusion
Considering that water heater problems are inevitable, identifying the issues early enough and fixing them will save you unnecessary costs that you may incur when you ignore them. It’s best to rely on a professional to address water heater problems unless you have proper knowledge on how to deal with them.
