Aug

27

Water Heater Troubleshooting

Filed Under Hot Water Heaters 

If you own a home, you are used to the little home maintenance items that occur non-stop both inside and out. While certain problems can be ignored or put off for months at a time, other things require immediate attention. If you turn on your shower and only find cold water, you soon realize how important your water heater truly is. Here are some water heater troubleshooting tips to help you recognize when you can repair your water heater, and when its better to invest in a new one.

It seems to take forever for the water to heat up
Especially when you are in a hurry, waiting for the water to heat up can seem to take forever. If you’ve used a lot of hot water at one time, it could simply be a matter of supply and demand; the water heater can’t keep up with the amount you are demanding. Another thing you may decide on is to invest in a hot water circulation system. A recirculating pump sends hot water where you want it, while sending the cooled water sitting in your pipes back into the system to be reheated, giving you an instant supply of hot water anytime.

The water smells like rotten eggs
If you live in an older home or a home that uses well water, you may turn on your water and discover a strong rotten eggs smell. This smell is produced when hydrogen combines with sulfur and bacteria in the water supply, and is usually caused by a hydrogen anode rod within your water heater. The easiest way to solve the problem is to replace the hydrogen rod with an aluminum rod. Or add a chlorination system to counter the bacteria.

The water heater is leaking
If you find water puddling around the water heater, it may be caused by a couple of different things. If the leak is from the pressure valve, the valve can be replaced by draining the tank, removing the valve from the pipe attached to the tank, and replacing the valve. If the leak is caused by a crack in the tank, its time for a new water heater, as you cannot fix a cracked tank. A plumber will quickly be able to tell you the cause of the leak, and the best course of action.

Insufficient amount of hot water
An insufficient amount of hot water can be caused from a variety of things. Check to make sure the pilot light didn’t go out from severe winds, or from improper venting. If it’s a newer water heater, is the tank the proper size for your home and your needs? Also check what temperature its set for; bumping it up a degree or two could give you the hot water you need. On an older tank, you could be experiencing a buildup of sediment within the tank. As little as a half inch of sediment could require as much as 70 percent more fuel to heat the water, so routine cleaning should be a part of your seasonal process.

Have any more questions about your water heater? Our friendly staff of plumbers are here for all of your water heater troubleshooting needs.

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Comments

One Response to “Water Heater Troubleshooting”

  1. Graham on August 28th, 2010 3:19 am

    Thanks for this one. I will keep a note of this guide

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