If you’re like a lot of the homeowners we talk to, you don’t think much about your water heater until it stops working. Running out of hot water is no fun. Sometimes you’re even right in the middle of a shower, and all of a sudden the water is cold!
This is always hard but being prepared can help. Read on to learn what to do if you ever find yourself in a situation where your hot water heater isn’t working the way you need it to.
And don’t be afraid to simply reach out to the water heater experts at Turner’s Service Co.!
Here are some Common Fixes to Water Heater Issues:
No Hot Water
When there’s no hot water, it means that your hot water heater has stopped functioning entirely. This can happen quickly or it can fade out over time, but no matter how it happens, there are several things that could go wrong.
First, check the voltage coming into your hot water heating system. If there’s no voltage at all, you may have a bad circuit breaker or a bad switch.
Breakers can suffer damage over time, or the breaker that you have for your hot water heater might be too small. If it can’t handle enough amps to keep your water heater running, it will flip and your hot water will disappear. That answer to both of these is simple: replace the breaker with one that works and that can handle the required amperage.
Hot water heaters also fail when there are grounding problems. Something may have accidently grounded or shorted a wired connection in your heater, or your thermostat or heating element could have grounded out. If you can’t find any accidental groundings, you may want to try to get these two parts replaced.
You could also have a problem with the reset button on your hot water heater. If it is tripped, it makes a definite click when you push it. You may have just had a power surge, in which case resetting it will start your heater again. However, continued problems may mean that you have a faulty thermostat. If it seems to reset constantly, try replacing this piece of the system.
Wire shorts and water leaks are also common causes of hot water heater failure. If you can replace the damaged wires or stop the leak, you may be able to repair your system. Otherwise, you may need to replace your water heater.
Lukewarm Water
Sometimes, your hot water won’t disappear altogether, but you will notice that it doesn’t get as hot as it used it. Often, this means that the lower heating element in your hot water heater isn’t working.
To test this, first turn off all electricity to your heater. Remove all access covers. There are usually two, one for the upper part and one for the lower. Use a voltage meter to be absolutely sure that the power is off.
Check the elements by simply touching the tank near where they are located. For both the upper and lower heating elements, the tank should be hot to the touch, especially right next to the element. If one tank is significantly cooler than the other, then you know which heating element is not working.
If you have a plumbing professional working on your hot water heater, they will also test each element with an electric meter. This will determine whether the element has electrical continuity and whether it is drawing the right amperage and voltage.
You may need to replace a heating element even if you only have water temperature problems when the weather is cold. Colder outdoor temperatures mean that the water coming into your home is colder, so your hot water heater has to work harder to keep it at the temperatures you desire. If one element isn’t working well, the heater may not be able to keep up during times when you are using a lot of hot water, simply because of the amount that the temperature has to rise to warm the water.
Do I Need Water Heater Repair?
Sometimes, water heaters fail quickly. Other times, though, there will be signs that your water heater is about to give out and it’s time for water heater repair. If you take note of these, you can avoid inconvenient and annoying problems with your hot water.
- Your water heater makes noise. If you hear banging noises or even rumbles coming from your water heater, it probably has sediment buildup inside. By the time that starts causing noise, your heater is likely damaged.
- You see water surrounding your hot water heater. This usually indicates a leak or a crack in the tank. Over time, this leak will expand and your water heater will no longer hold water.
- There is rust in your water. This usually means that one of the metal parts in the tank has been exposed to water and is oxidizing. If these parts are getting wet, something is not working right in your heater.
Help from Manassas Water Heater Experts
Not sure if your water heater is working properly? We’d be happy to take a look. If you see these signs or symptoms, call Turner’s Service Co and we will come out and see what’s going wrong. Schedule an appointment today!
