What To Do If Your Water Heater Unexpectedly Stops Working
What To Do If Your Water Heater Unexpectedly Stops Working
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On this page below you will discover some very good resources concerning How to Troubleshoot and Repair an Electric Water Heater.
Many modern residences make use of an electric hot water heater for their heating unit, because of its ease and ease of use. However, just like any other electrical devices, troubles may arise with its usage, all of a sudden. It can be actually frustrating to awaken to a cold shower instead of a warm one or having your bathroom with water that isn't warm sufficient or even as well hot. Whatever the instance may be, hot water heater problems can be fairly stressful. The good news is, we've made a list of possible services to your hot water heater issues. There are a number of variables that could trigger most of these issues, maybe an issue with the power supply, the electrical burner, or the thermostat. Prior to doing anything, ensure you shut off the primary power supply for safety and security. Whatever the trouble is, getting it fixed ought to not present way too much of a concern if you follow these steps:
Call A Professional:
If after replacing all malfunctioning components and also resetting your temperature level, the water heater still isn't working, you may need to get in touch with a professional plumber for an expert point of view. The trouble with your heating system could be that the cold and hot faucets have been switched or it may be undersized for the amount of hot water needed in your home. Whatever the case may be, a professional plumber would assist resolve the issue.
Inspect Your Power Supply:
As fundamental as this may seem, it is really essential. Without adequate power, your hot water heater will certainly not operate. So the first thing to do when your water instantly retires is to validate that it isn't a power trouble. Examine if the fuse is burnt out or the breaker stumbled. If the circuit breaker is the problem, just turn it off and on again. Replace any kind of busted or damaged fuse. Check the home appliance with power after these modifications to see if it's now working.
Check Your Thermostat:
If your water heater still isn't functioning or the water appearing isn't warm enough, you may need to examine the temperature level settings on your top thermostat. Make certain the breaker is turned off before doing anything. Open the accessibility panel and also press the red switch for temperature reset above the thermostat. This should aid heat up the water. Turn the circuit breaker back on and examine if the issue has been dealt with.
Examine the Burner in the Water Heater:
If it's not a power problem, after that attempt having a look at your heating element if it is still functioning. Check each of your heating elements to be sure the trouble isn't with any of them. If any of them is damaged, change that part and afterwards inspect whether the hot water is back on.
Conclusion
Hot water heater issues are not always major. Most of them are because of minor concerns like a blown fuse or damaged heating element. Changing the damaged parts need to work. Nevertheless, if you are still unable to address the issue, give a call to your closest plumber to come 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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