Prepare for Winter: 10 Common Water Heater Problems You Should Know
Have you ever thought of regular maintenance of your water heater installed in your home? Probably not. Most homeowners rarely think that water heaters are crucial fixtures of your house that serve various purposes, especially in the winter season. However, they only get attention when they wake up in the morning and end up with a cold shower.
If you talk about modern water heaters, they can last 10 to 15 years. With proper maintenance and repair, its lifespan can easily get extended. That means if you face any issue with your water heaters, you must call a professional like All Star Plumbing and Restoration for water heater repair in San Diego. They are highly experienced and skilled plumber in their work along with it they do every work satisfactorily, keeping their esteemed customers in mind.
So, if you have a water heater at your home and probably have some issues with it, then the best solution is to learn most of the usual water heater problems. Let’s discuss the top 10 common problems you may encounter this winter with your water heater: –
1. No Hot Water
Every individual needs hot water in the winter season to bathe in comfort. Modern water heaters these days have the option to control the temperature according to their preference. But, if your water heater is not heating the water, then you must assess the electric breaker to check if it’s flipped. The water in the tank will be cold depending upon how long the electric breaker has flipped.
2. Rusty Water
Rusty water is another water heater problem that you can encounter this winter. Rusty water indicates that your water heater is rusting and corroding away. However, if this issue is left untreated, it might aggravate, and you may need to replace the water heater. So, if you notice this problem, you must call water heater repair services in San Diego.
3. Water Takes Too Long To Heat
If your water heater takes too much time to heat the water, it can be due to faulty heating elements, a faulty thermostat, or sediment build-up. So, call the water heater maintenance professional in San Diego to check each component and replace them if necessary. However, if you have a gas water heater, it can be a faulty burner.
4. Not Enough Hot Water
The problem of not having enough hot water can be due to an issue with the thermostat. People raise the thermostat’s temperature in the winter as they need acute hot water. So, with the rising temperature, the thermostat setting gets disturbed, and it may need replacement. Some of the possible causes of this are: –
- Circuit breaker — Check if the breaker is tripped or not.
- High-temperature limit — Push the high-temperature cut-off reset button.
- Heating elements — If the above tips don’t help, test each heating element by touching the screws with a tester probe.
- Thermostat — Water that is not hot enough is often due to a low temperature on the thermostats.
- Small tank — Ask the homeowners if their water needs have increased, as they may need to upgrade to a powerful water heater.
- Dip tube — Drain the tank and replace the dip tube.
5. Bad Smell
Sometimes when you turn on the water heater tap to get some hot water, a foul smell comes from the water. It is a common issue with water heaters, especially in winters. The smell is due to bacteria in the water. There are various options to solve this issue, like flushing the water heater every few months. Apart from that, replace the anode rod so that this problem cannot arise in the future.
Moreover, another helpful tip is to turn the water heater thermostat to kill the bacteria. This solution is temporary, but you need to call a professional of water heater maintenance in San Diego for a permanent solution.
6. Water Is Leaking From The Top
Are you noticing water leakage or pooling at the top of the water heater? It can be due to two reasons. The first one is the hot water outlet pipes, and also the cold water inlet is loose. The second reason would be the temperature and loose pressure relief valve.
Some of the other issues related to water heater leaks are: –
- Pressure relief valve — Replace the valve to stop the leak.
- Ball valve — Tighten the nut securing the handle.
- Loose connection or stripped threaded nipple — If the leak originates from the top of the heater, then a loose connection or stripped threaded needle would be the reason.
- Drain valve — Make sure the valve is closed correctly. If that doesn’t help, replace the valve.
- Condensation — Switch off the heater for a few hours. If this solves the problem, lower the temperature on the thermostat.
- Tank — A leak from the bottom that isn’t due to any of the above usually means replacing the entire heater.
7. Water Heater Making Noise
Are you hearing some popping or knocking sounds from your water heater? It may increase your concern, but it is nothing. However, one of the most common reasons for this sound is sediment build-up at the tank’s bottom and scale build-up on the heating components. In addition, sometimes, you can also hear sounds due to the building of pressure inside the tank. To fix this issue, you must call the professional as they are highly experienced and qualified to tackle this problem within a few minutes.
8. Reheating Is Taking Too Much Time
Gas water heaters heat the water twice as fast as electric heaters. However, if you notice that your water heater takes too much time to heat water, your heating elements or thermostat are faulty.
9. Damaged Gas Control Or Burner Assembly
It is a common problem that comes in most of the water heaters installed at home. If the burner is dirty or non-functional, the water heater will not work. However, the most common solution to this problem is to replace the damaged gas control or burner assembly.
Factors To Consider While Buying New Water Heaters
Buying a new water heater is quite an overwhelming experience for everyone, especially first-time buyers. So, to make your purchasing experience qualitative, in the following lines, we have discussed some of the factors which are essential to consider while purchasing a new water heater. Let’s check them out: –
Consider The Capacity Of The Water Heater
Before you start searching for a new water heater in the market, you need to decide on the heater’s capacity according to your home needs. If your water usage is high and the purchased water heater can not meet your needs, you may face problems sooner than expected. So, choose according to the needs and go for the best water heater.
| Capacity | Criteria |
| 6-10L | Two-person per bathroom |
| 15L | 1 – 2 person per bathroom in a cold climatic location |
| 15L or more | 3 – 4 people per bathroom |
| 25L | 3 – 4 people per bathroom in a cold climatic location |
| 35L or more | More than four-person, bathtubs |
| Instant water heater | Kitchen, mild hot water requirement |
Quality Of The Tank And Heating Element
You need to consider the water tank quality and efficiency of the heating element before buying a water heater. That means if you live in an area where you receive hard water, it is crucial to pay attention to the tank and the heating element material.
Tank and heating elements directly come in contact with water. If you happen to live in a hard-water area, then it may cause scaling or corrosion while curtailing water heaters’ lifespan.
Energy-Efficient Water Heaters
Water heater significantly increases the energy bills. However, the electricity you are using via a water heater depends on several factors like setting the temperature too high or a particular location. So, if you are planning to buy a new water heater for your home, make sure you only purchase energy-efficient water heaters with a 5-star rating.
Living In High-Rise Apartments
The problem of high water pressure is quite common in high-rise buildings as it will damage the inner tank of a water heater and cause leakage issues. So, if you are living in a high-rise apartment, make sure the water heater you buy must be a high-pressure bearing tank. Water heaters are designed to suit varying water conditions and can easily withstand a high pressure of 8 bars.
Installation Area
The installation space should be spacious so that professionals can fix the inlet and outlet pipe properly. A spacious installation area helps water heater experts to carry out maintenance and repair services easily.
Warranty And After-Sales Service
These days everyone wants to buy a branded product as they last for years. However, this also goes for a water heater as branded products will offer you the ultimate peace of mind in all aspects like warranty, after-sales services, etc.
Safety Features
Nowadays, water heaters are safe to use, yet it poses a potential threat. You should check the safety valve, which helps relieve pressure when the pressure or temperature gets too high. Built-in safety features keep you safe and prevent the water heater from causing substantial damage.
Faulty Water Heater Signs
The water heater is one of the essential appliances in your household. The water heater can also wear out and need replacement. Now the question arises how do you know your water heater needs replacement?
So, let us discuss a few signs which will tell you your water heater needs to be replaced: –
- Reduced hot water capacity
- Inexplicable rising energy costs
- A slow drip leak
- The age of water heater is advanced
- Fluctuating or inconsistent water temperatures
These are some of the top signs that will tell you that your water heater needs replacement as soon as possible to keep your family safe.
The Final Words
To keep your water heater in a good state, take care of the above problems and fix them in time by calling professionals from All Star Plumbing and Restoration water heater repair services in San Diego. No matter what type of problem your water heater is facing, they are the best service providers who always address consumers’ concerns and ensure customer satisfaction.
