Diagnosing a Water Heater Emergency: What to Do When It Stops Working
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Numerous modern homes make use of an electric water heater for their heating system, due to its comfort as well as simplicity of use. However, just like any other electric devices, troubles might develop with its usage, suddenly. It can be truly discouraging to get up to a cool shower as opposed to a warm one or having your bathroom with water that isn't warm adequate and even as well hot. Whatever the instance might be, water heater problems can be fairly nerve-racking. The good news is, we've made a list of feasible options to your water heater issues. There are a number of variables that might trigger much of these issues, it could be a problem with the power supply, the electrical burner, or the thermostat. Prior to doing anything, ensure you switch off the primary power supply for safety. Whatever the trouble is, getting it repaired should not posture excessive of an issue if you adhere to these steps:
Call A Specialist:
If after replacing all damaged parts and also resetting your temperature, the water heater still isn't functioning, you might require to contact a specialist plumber for a professional point of view. The issue with your heating system could be that the cold and hot taps have been switched over or it may be undersized for the amount of hot water needed in your home. Whatever the instance may be, an expert plumber would assist resolve the trouble.
Check Your Power Supply:
As standard as this may appear, it is very essential. Without ample power, your water heater will not function. So the first thing to do when your water suddenly retires is to validate that it isn't a power problem. Examine if the fuse is burnt out or the breaker tripped. If the breaker is the problem, merely transform it on and off once again. Change any type of busted or damaged fuse. Examine the appliance with power after these changes to see if it's currently working.
Check Your Thermostat:
If your hot water heater still isn't working or the water coming out isn't hot enough, you might require to check the temperature settings on your top thermostat. Ensure the circuit breaker is switched off prior to doing anything. Open up the access panel as well as press the red switch for temperature level reset above the thermostat. This ought to assist heat up the water. Transform the breaker back on and also check if the problem has actually been dealt with.
Inspect the Burner in the Water Heater:
If it's not a power problem, after that try looking into your heating element if it is still working. Test each of your burner to ensure the trouble isn't with any one of them. If any of them is malfunctioning, change that component and after that inspect whether the warm water is back on.
Verdict
Hot water heater troubles are not constantly significant. Many of them are due to minor issues like a blown fuse or damaged burner. Replacing the malfunctioning parts ought to work. However, if you are still unable to solve the problem, give a call to your nearest plumber ahead to get it dealt with.
Common Reasons Why Your Hot Water Heater Isn’t Working
Water Gets Too Hot
Ouch! You wanted a hot shower, not boiling! If you have a newer model electric water heater, your water heater works with a thermostat (actually, two thermostats). If this thermostat has been jostled — or purposely reset — by someone in your home, the water flow will be much hotter than you expected.
FIX: Adjust the thermostat to a more moderate setting for producing hot water. Forty-nine degrees Celsius is recommended to prevent scalding.
Water Doesn’t Get Hot
This is the opposite of the previous problem, but it’s almost as bad. Your flow of hot water is merely lukewarm or even incoming cold water. Once again, an incorrect thermostat setting, or a faulty thermocouple in a gas water heater, could be to blame. Another explanation might be that there’s no power to the water heater (in the case of an electric heater) or the pilot light has gone out (if you have a gas unit).
FIX: Adjust your thermostat as necessary. If that doesn’t do the trick, check the power supply. Another possibility is the replacement of a damaged thermocouple in gas water heaters.
Leaking Water Heater
A leaking water heater (a sign may be low hot water pressure, or not enough hot water to shower) might be a reason to push the panic button… but first, take a few minutes to check where the leakage is coming from. Leaks near the top of the heater tend to indicate a problem with a valve, which won’t need a major repair. However, a leak from the water heater base is more serious.
FIX: You may need a qualified plumber to replace your drain valve or TPR (temperature pressure relief) valve. When your water heater is leaking from below, your plumber might be able to fix it if you call them soon enough. Otherwise, you will need to have a new water heater installed.
Noisy Water Heater
Sometimes your water heater might make some peculiar noises, loud enough to compete with your singing in the shower. Are these a cause for alarm? It depends on exactly what kind of sounds you are hearing. Sizzles and rumbles are both red flags, indicating a heavy sediment buildup in your hot water tank that might cause a breakdown in the near future. In addition, banging is a sign of a water hammer, which can lead to serious damage to your pipes.
FIX: To stop sizzling or rumbling, turn off the tank and have it flushed by a reliable plumbing company ASAP. Ask your plumber to install a water hammer arrestor to quiet down the banging and save the pipes.
Pilot Light Keeps Going Out
Many pilot lights go out once in a while, but when your water heater pilot light keeps going out continually, it’s a problem. And the chances are good that that problem stems from either a shortage of combustible air or a malfunctioning thermocouple.
FIX: Increase the air supply around your water heater by cleaning dust and lint off the appliance and clearing any clutter from the area around it. A bad thermocouple will require expert plumbing repair and is more than basic gas water heater troubleshooting.
Water Smells Bad
The water from your residential plumbing pipes should smell neutral. If it has a strong unpleasant odour, something’s wrong. To check whether your water heater is at fault, turn on a hot water faucet and let it run for a few minutes. And, yes, use your nose to determine exactly what you are smelling.
FIX: For a garlicky odour, relight the pilot light on your water tank. When you detect the scent of garbage, you’ll need a professional plumber to flush the hot water tank and possibly replace the anode rod. A strong smell of rotten eggs could signal a hazardous gas leak; turn off the gas supply if possible, get everyone out of your house, and make an emergency call to the gas company.
Water Looks Brown Or Rusted
The first thing to do is ask yourself, “Is the brown, rusty-looking water coming only from my hot water taps?” If the answer is yes, then most likely, either the anode rod or the water heater interior is starting to rust, especially if your hot water heater is nearing the end of its life expectancy. (A “no” answer means the issue does not originate from the hot water heater but rather from the water supply.)
FIX: Contact a plumber to inspect the water heater. If you catch the problem quickly enough, it might be fixable. Otherwise, you’ll need a water heater replacement. Consider installation of an efficient new tankless water heater.
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