Category Archives: water heater repair

Apr '23

Water Heater Flushing And Repairs – Why You Should Leave It To Plumbing Experts

Water heaters are often taken for granted when it comes to home maintenance. You use them daily and they tend to work fine with little maintenance. However, it’s important to not ignore potential problems. If left unchecked, water heater repair issues will only get worse, resulting in a more expensive repair or even having to replace the water heater heater.

A professional water heater repair service can help you determine what issue you are having and have it fixed quickly and properly. Signs that your water heater needs maintenance include leaks around the base, a decrease in hot water due to a higher temperature setting than necessary, rust-colored water coming out of the tap, or a screeching sound coming from the heater. All of these signs could mean that you need to flush your water heater or even replace it.

Regular maintenance like water heater flushing is essential to ensure your water heater is running properly. An experienced technician can flush your water heater by using a garden hose to remove any sediment build-up from the bottom of the heater. This is recommended every few years, or sooner if you notice sediment build-up inside your tank.

When it comes to more detailed repairs, like replacing the heater’s control panel, venting system, or anode rod, an experienced technician with the proper tools and know-how can help make sure these repairs are done correctly. An experienced local plumber will also know exactly how to adjust or replace the temperature and pressure relief valve to meet local code requirements.

DIY Water Heater Repair

Although it may be tempting to try to repair your water heater yourself, there are numerous reasons that a home-owner should leave it to the professionals.

Water heaters can be complicated to repair and if not done correctly, DIY repairs could make the problem worse or cause more damage. Not having the right tools or knowledge can result in costly repairs down the line or worse, injury or electrocution. Fixing the water heater on your own could also void the warranty and cost you more in the long run.

If you do decide to try repair it yourself, make sure you are well-informed before beginning any repair or maintenance. Check the manufacturer’s website and make sure you have the right tools and parts to make the repair. It’s always best to turn off the power to the heater before completing any repair and take all necessary safety precautions.

Water Heater Flushing

Water Heater flushing is an important water heater maintenance task that should be done regularly. If left unchecked, sediment and minerals can build-up in the tank and reduce its efficiency. It can also damage the heater over time and make repairs more costly.

Flushing a water heater is relatively simple and can be done with a garden hose. However, if you notice an increase in sediment or mineral build-up, then it’s best to call in a professional. An experienced plumber can flush the system and help diagnose any other maintenance issues you might be having.

Regular water heater maintenance, including flushing and cleaning, can help prevent costly repairs or replacements down the line and keep your water heater running optimally.

In conclusion, water heaters require regular maintenance and repairs to ensure they are running correctly and efficiently. Flushing and cleaning should be done regularly and any potential issues should be addressed right away to avoid more costly repairs. If you have questions or need professional help, it’s best to call a plumber as they are experienced with all aspects of water heater repair and maintenance.

Sep '22

Troubleshooting an Electric Water Heater

Are you having trouble with your electric water heater and trying to figure out the problem? Water heater repairs are a big headache, and they can throw your entire home out of order. As JTS Management points out, knowing how to detect the root of the problem when a water heater malfunctions can be a great help.

How do you troubleshoot a water heater if it is not working? To do that, you must be familiar with the water heater’s components. You also need a step-by-step process for checking the water heater. This post provides the information you need to do all of these.

How to troubleshoot an electric water heater

Part one: Testing the water heater elements

Step one: Shut off the power

You need to locate the breaker that says “water heater,” “tank,” or “HWT” inside your circuit breaker box and flip it to the off position. You may also want to unplug the water heater from the wall if you can see the power outlet where it is plugged in.

Step two: Open the access panels

Remove the covers of the upper and lower access panels to reveal the element and thermostat. After you do this, you will want to remove the insulation. After, carefully remove the plastic cover over the part and thermostat.

Step three: Check that power is off

Before figuring out the problem with your water heater, you need to verify that the power is off. To do this, touch the electric wires inside the access panels with a volt-stick. If there is power in the water heater, the volt-stick will light up.

Step four: Test the upper element

Remove the two wires connected to the upper element and then do a resistance test to see if the upper part is working. For this, you will need a voltmeter. Simultaneously touch the voltmeter probes to the two terminals on the upper element where the wires were attached: one probe to one screw and the other probe to the second screw. If the meter registers resistance, the element is fine, but you need to replace the part if it registers no resistance.

Step five: Test the lower element

Repeat the above steps with the lower element

Step six: Test for grounded element

This test follows the same process as the ones already done. You will need the voltmeter, but you want to set it to ohms this time. Touch the probe to one of the terminals on the element and, instead of the other terminal, touch the second probe to the steel surface on the inner wall of the water heater behind the element. If the element is in good condition, the voltmeter will not register any resistance. If the voltmeter reads resistance, the element is grounded and needs to be replaced.

Part two: Testing the thermostat

The thermostat controls the heating element in the water heater. The thermostat maintains water temperature inside the tank by opening or closing the contacts that allow power to flow to the elements. If a water heater has two heating elements, it will also have two thermostats.

When testing the water heater thermostat for defects, you are looking for continuity. This is a continuous electrical path that should be present within the device. If there is no continuity, the thermostat is damaged and needs to be replaced. Here is how to test the thermostat in a water heater.

Step one: Getting ready

You will need a multimeter for this test. If using an analog multimeter, set the dial to the lowest level for ohms of resistance. Calibrate the meter by pinching the needles together and adjusting the needle to read zero. If using a digital multimeter, rotate the dial to the lowest level for ohms of resistance or resistance with tone.

Step two: Check the power supply and remove the access panel cover

Follow steps two and three in Part One above.

Step three: Reset the thermostat

The upper thermostat has a reset button; this can trip if the water in the tank is overheating. Overheating is often caused by thermostat contacts that have fused, shorted heating elements, or the thermostat is out of calibration. Push the reset button to reset the thermostat.

Step four: Test the thermostat

Isolate the thermostat from the circuit by disconnecting the wires. Note the position of each wire before you do this. Next, touch one multimeter probe to one left side terminal on the thermostat and the other probe to the other left side terminal. For digital meters, the thermostat is okay if the reading is zero (or almost zero) ohms. But if using an analog meter and there is no movement in the needle, the thermostat has no continuity and should be replaced. If all else fails, call a plumber for an electric water heater repair. In some cases a full replacement of your water heater may be in order.

Dec '21

Reasons Your Hot Water Heater is Not Working and How to Fix

Water heaters are one of the most used appliances in the home. They are the reason you can turn the tap and expect an instant supply of warm water. Water heaters make everyday household activities like taking a shower, washing the dishes, or doing the laundry so much easier.

This is why water heater malfunctions can be so utterly disruptive to your lifestyle. Until it breaks down, most of the time your water heater does its work unnoticed in an out-of-the-way corner of the home. The only water heater that gets attention is one that is not working.

But why do water heater malfunctions happen? How can you detect small issues with the water heater before they become big problems? What are the most common water heater malfunctions and how can you avoid or fix them? Find the answers to these questions in this post.

5 common water heater problems and what to do about them

Insufficient or extremely hot water

Sometimes a water heater will not produce enough hot water or the water is too hot. This is a fairly common problem. To fix it, go to the water heater tank and adjust the thermostat. You may have turned the thermostat down during the summer (to save energy) but forgot to turn it up in winter. Thermostat settings may also change if the water heater is bumped accidentally. If the water temperature doesn’t change after you do this, you may need to replace the thermostat.

A water heater will also have water temperature issues if the tank is leaking, the temperature relief valve has stopped working, the gas control or burner assembly is damaged, or there are mineral deposits in the tank. Temperature-pressure relief valves are easily replaced. You can flush the tank to get rid of deposits. But if the tank is leaking, it is probably time to get a new water heater.

Discolored water

Water discoloration is often caused by a high iron and copper content in the water. If the water in your area has a high mineral content, it will cause problems in the components of the plumbing system and the water heater. You may have issues with lime deposits in pipes, showerheads, and taps. This will show up as scaling inside the water heater, washing machine, and dishwasher. If scale builds up long enough inside a water heater, the appliance will start producing discolored water.

Water discoloration is mostly caused by rust (which is accelerated by scale deposits) or anode rod issues. Depending on how soon you detect the problem, it can easily be fixed, that is if the issue is from the anode rod. If the water from the municipality has high mineral content, you can solve it by installing a whole house water filter or water softener.

Smelly water

Water coming from the water heater may have a bad odor, smell of rotten eggs, sewage, or garlic. If this issue is not noticed with all the faucets in the entire home, it may not be from the water heater. Sometimes water will become smelly if it has not been used for a long time. Running the taps in your home for a while will solve the problem.

If this doesn’t resolve the situation, the water heater could be the cause. Rotten egg and sewage smells are caused by heavy bacteria growth inside the tank. This can be fixed by flushing the tank. A garlic-like smell means you need to relight the pilot light. Gas line damage will also cause a strong smell. If the problem persists, get an expert to inspect the appliance.

Strange noises from the water heater

A noisy water heater may be suffering from excessive mineral buildup and sedimentation. Mineral buildup comes from the water and, as already explained, is worse in areas with hard water. Sedimentation may also happen as a result of issues with the heating element. If you hear the sound of boiling water from the water heater, the system is dangerously overheating due to extreme pressures inside the tank. You need a professional plumber to fix these kinds of problems.

Leaking water heater

Leaks can happen in different parts of the water heater. Leaks caused by a loose in-line valve are easily fixed. This is the valve that controls the flow of water in and out of the tank. To fix the problem, simply tighten the nut that holds the valve in place. If the leak gets worse, you may need another in-line valve. Pressure relief valves can also leak, but they are also easy to replace.

In addition to the above, the water heater may leak because of age, bad plumbing connections, poor maintenance, corrosion, and too much pressure inside the tank. If you find that water pools near the water heater or there is dripping water from the unit, you have a leak. Most of the time, leaks from the water heater tank means your water heater needs to be replaced.