Common Water Heater Repairs
A water heater is one of a home’s most significant appliances, and most homeowners ignore it until it doesn’t work. Water heaters require the attention of professionals for routine maintenance and service when it isn’t working as designed.
Attempting to repair a water heater can be hard on the appliance and dangerous to the home and its residents. Water heaters can blow up when repaired improperly.
When a homeowner calls a professional plumber for help with their water heater, there are several steps the technician will take to determine the cause of the concern.
No hot water
If the homeowner turns the knob for hot water and only cold water comes out, there might be a problem with electricity reaching the water heater or the pilot light is out.
Electric water heaters need electricity to run. If there is a disruption in the electrical system, the heater won’t heat water. Check to see if the circuit breaker is tripped; reset it if it is. If not, contact a professional for help. Inexperienced homeowners should not work on electrical components for safety reasons.
For gas water heaters, a pilot light is a small gas flame that is constantly lit and must remain so as the ignition source for a water heater. An extinguished pilot light is the most common problem with gas water heaters, but it is an easy fix. The pilot light simply needs to be relit; this task is something that a homeowner can do with a basic lighter and caution for safety.
However, if the breaker tripping or the pilot light going out is a recurring problem for a homeowner, they should contact a plumber to determine the cause. There could be another issue with the water heater causing it to malfunction. A professional plumber can pinpoint and repair the problem or offer information regarding a replacement heater.
Strange noises
If a water heater recently began making strange noises, it is time for a professional to check it over. Several reasons cause a water heater to make strange noises, and all of these problems require the attention of an experienced plumber.
Often, the strange noises stem from a mineral build-up inside the system. Hard water is made up of particles and minerals. When these minerals are not filtered from the water, they corrode the appliances. A water heater should be turned up to 120 degrees—no higher, no lower—to avoid mineral build-up inside the tank. Additionally, homeowners should drain the tank regularly to remove any minerals or hire a plumber to do the work.
Water temperature problems
Even though the pilot light is lit, a homeowner may still have problems with their water temperature. For example, in an electric water heater, the heating element might be out; in a gas water heater, the gas thermocouple may malfunction.
Thankfully, both of these are easy fixes for a professional plumber. A plumber can replace either of these components and have your system fully function again.
