Common Water Heater Problems and What to Do About Them
When there is a problem with your water heater, it can start to cause problems in other areas of the home. Water heaters will typically keep working for 10-15 years; however, they can develop problems after about 4-5 years. The good news is that if you know what to look for, you can take steps to get your water heater back into good shape or at least alleviate some of the problems that it might be causing.
Check the gage
The first thing to check is the gauge on the side of the heater. This will tell you how much water is in the tank. If it is below ¾ full, you are most likely experiencing heating problems. You can drain enough water out so that it is at least half full.
Maintenance
If the water heater seems to be heating, but not as well as usual or is producing hot spots, it may be time to perform some maintenance on the elements inside the tank. If you have used an excessive amount of cold water without using any hot water recently, this can cause a problem, as well. If you hav ace been using a high-efficiency washer, this can also put stress on the elements because of the additional water that is being drawn from them to fill up your machine’s dispenser.
Talk to a Professional
If you still can’t fix the problem, it is time to call in a professional. A plumber should be able to determine whether or not your heater needs repairing or if it is time for a replacement.
Heat Related Problems
If there are heat-related problems with your heater, this could also cause problems with the hot water throughout the house. In addition to problems with the temperature, you may start to notice a buildup of scale around parts of the tank. This can cause damage to sensitive components inside and should be serviced as soon as possible.
In addition to these common problems, it is also possible that your heater isn’t heating because there is not an adequate supply of power. If you can’t tell whether or not this is the problem, you will want to contact a professional. Sometimes, people who have had recent renovations done in their homes may need to upgrade their wiring to feed an additional power line directly to the heater. The last thing you want is for your water heater and hot water supply to be connected through two different circuits.
Hot water supply problems can impact people in different ways, depending on the situation. It is possible that you won’t notice any problems at all or it could result in damage to other components in your home. No matter what kind of problem you are experiencing, calling a professional will be best for resolving the issue completely. If your heater needs to be replaced, make sure that you work with a company that has extensive experience in water heater replacement.
