You don’t get to see your water heater operate all the time, like your washing machines or other appliances. However, it continues to deliver the needful silently behind the scenes. Whether it comes to a comfortable shower, laundry, dishwashing, or simply washing your hands, you cannot possibly overlook your water heater.
Issues cropping up with your water heater is not unusual. In these cases, it makes sense to reach out to the experts at Clover Services and address these problems. Several factors can lead to a malfunctioning water heater. Here are some of these factors that you might associate with your malfunctioning water heater.
What Issues Would You Commonly Find With Water Heaters?
Have a look at some of the common issues with water heaters. Make sure that you turn the power off at the circuit breaker in case you try to troubleshoot the appliance. Calling in an expert would be highly advisable.
1. Problems With The Water Temperature
Tool Cold Water
The water might be too cold to use in the first place. If you have a faulty thermostat or issues with the power supply, the water will remain cold. Even a glitch with the heating element would lead to low water temperatures. In these cases, you need to turn off the power.
A blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker might have triggered the problem. Next, you need to inspect the power switches to ensure they are fine, with the power indicators lit. Inspect the thermostat to check whether the system is receiving power.
Water Not Enough Hot
At times, you might find that the heater is unable to deliver the desired temperature. The water, in this case, might be warm. However, it would not be adequately hot to use. This problem occurs if your water heater is undersized. In other cases, the hot and cold connections might get crossed. Problems with the thermostat or heating element might also trigger this problem.
Excessively Hot Water
In case the water is excessively hot, you would run the risk of scalding your skin. Usually, this happens when you set the thermostat too high. You might check out the manual provided by the manufacturers to adjust the temperature. Professionals advise the right setting to balance efficiency and heat.
2. Damaged Or Loose In-Line Valve
Leaking plumbing connections and valves usually lead to water leaks. In case you come across leaks in the water heater, check out these valves. However, sometimes other issues in the tank may also cause water leaks. Leaking water might lead to significant damage to your property. This explains why most households call in professionals to get the issue fixed quickly.
Some of the other factors that lead to leaks in your water heater are:
- A defective T&P (temperature and pressure) relief valve
- Overheating
- Wrong water pressure
- Stuck valves
- Loose bolts in the heating element
- Leaking plumbing connections close by
- A poor gasket
Make sure to tighten the valves to prevent leaking. However, take care not to tighten them excessively.
3. Odd Noises In The Tank
At times, you might hear strange noises from the heater. This might be like a whine with a high pitch or a popping or low rumbling noise. It can be the noise produced by boiling water in the tank.
Excessive sediment buildup at the tank’s bottom may sometimes lead to overheating, producing these noises. To fix this issue, try flushing the heater. In some cases, you may have to replace the water heater.
4. Rust-Colored Water
Water heaters sometimes produce discolored water. The water being discharged by the faucet comes with a yellow, brown, or reddish tint. This indicates that there’s corrosion in the inner lining of the tank or the pipes.
Sometimes, the water might have the smell of rotten eggs in it. This implies that your hot water tank has got bacteria growing in it. You might need to get the anode rod replaced in some cases.
5. Low Pressure Of Water
Although a malfunctioning heater may lead to low water pressure, you also have other reasons behind it. In older homes, the water pipes may be smaller. This implies that its flow would be restricted before the water reaches the sinks in your bathroom or kitchen. Make sure that your system has at least ¾ inch pipes.
Also, deposits of calcium and magnesium in the water pipes may lead to low pressure. Due to the buildup of these minerals, the diameter of the pipes would narrow down. This would minimize the efficiency of the water heater to carry the warm water efficiently to the sink.
Remember, you would need a plumbing license to remove the drywall. Thus, you need to hire a professional plumber.
6. Heater Takes Longer To Produce Hot Water
Once you empty the tank, recovering the warm water would not take more than a few minutes. In case you find that the water heater is taking unnaturally long hours to warm up the water, the burner orifice may have been contaminated.
You might also increase the water heater’s gas pressure to deal with the low supply of water. If you want to get the burner orifice cleaned or adjust the gas pressure, get in touch with a licensed professional.
7. Damage In Pressure Relief Valves
You will come across a pressure relief valve In most water heaters. These are engineered so that they can discharge pressure from the tank in case it becomes very high. There is a value present on the top of the heater.
When this valve starts leaking, experts recommend getting a new one from your local store or online. It is easy to replace these pressure valves.
Endnote
Whether you have broken heating elements in your water heater or a dip tube crack, you need professional support to get things fixed. Reach out to one of the established service providers for affordable services.
With experience on your side, you won’t be shelling out excessively for repairs and replacements. After all, you can restore the normal functioning of your water heater with quality services from experts.