Can you imagine taking a cold bath or washing dishes in cold water? Unpleasant, to say the least! Especially in winter, even here in Lighthouse Point, FL! Not having a functioning water heater can be a real nuisance. Common water heater repair issues might seem like they have an easy fix, and one question on many people’s minds when it comes to fixing a water heater is “Do I really need a professional plumber to repair my heater?”
Here’s the thing: Yes, most water heater remediation will require the attention of a professional. Regardless of whether your water heater is a conventional model with a tank or a new tankless model, you will benefit from professional services. By design, tankless water heaters are much more complex than their traditional counterparts. But there are a series of checks that you, as the homeowner, can make to help speed along the water heater repair process.
“I don’t get hot water from my water heater!”
A lack of hot water from your water heater is a common issue that has a variety of causes. Firstly, you need to make sure that the water heater is wired up to a power source correctly. Both electric and gas-powered water heaters need a working electrical connection. Your water heater will typically use a 120-volt outlet, and you may need someone with electrical experience to determine if your unit is connected to a suitable, working outlet. If the breaker switch trips from on to off when you fire up the water heater to heat water, you may have wider issues that require more than just a water heater repair service.
Gas-powered heaters that aren’t heating water correctly may have an issue with the gas supply or related components, such as the pilot light. Be certain that the gas supply is on! On a gas-powered water heater there should be a handle that rotates counter-clockwise to allow gas supply through a valve attached to the heater. If this is in the correct position, test the water temperature by running a nearby faucet. If you’re still lacking hot water and the gas supply is definitely working, then you will need a professional plumber to investigate the following during a water heater repair callout:
- The gas valve. It could have failed.
- The ignition. Both gas and electric igniters can fail or need cleaning.
- Overheating unit. This can cause premature shutdown.
- Sediment buildup. This can affect both conventional and tankless units as sediments can build up in the pipes feeding water to your unit.
- Number of attached fixtures. It may be that your unit is not large enough to keep up with your household’s demand and you’ve simply run out of a hot water supply.
- Bad heating elements. These elements, found only in electric water heaters, can corrode or fail if not maintained correctly, resulting in hot water loss. A water heater repair service is required to replace the anode rod.
“I am experiencing low water pressure!”
This is a common issue noticed with the tankless water heaters installed in many Lighthouse Point, FL homes. A lack of water pressure is often caused by too many hot water appliances in use simultaneously. For example, do you only notice the issue when you take a shower while the dishwasher is running? Do you notice it when you’re trying to hose down the yard and the washing machine or dishwasher is running at the same time?
There are a few steps you can take to temporarily relieve a lack of water pressure, but you may still find yourself in need of water heater repair or an upgrade service. One way to test the water pressure is to turn off all hot water appliances, and then test the water pressure of a hot shower. Note the water pressure – if it’s low while there’s only one hot water appliance running then your home’s plumbing requires immediate attention.
If the water pressure is fine when only one appliance that uses hot water is running, start by turning on other hot water fixtures to see when the water pressure starts to drop. Is it when two appliances are running at the same time? Three? You may want to consider upgrading your water heater to something that can handle a higher simultaneous workload. Otherwise, you can change your hot water usage habits. If your water usage habits don’t change and you opt not to upgrade, you could find yourself in a predicament where you’ve prematurely worn out components of your water heater and require a water heater repair callout sooner than expected.
Also, take a look at your water heater’s set temperature. If you reduce the thermostat, you may find that water pressure returns to normal. Tankless water heaters are an on-demand water supply. If you’ve got the thermostat set too high, there’s a possibility that water flowing through the system will slow and water pressure will drop, to give time for water to reach the desired temperature. The majority of modern water heaters have a digital display that allows homeowners to manually amend temperature.
Are you still experiencing low water pressure even after you have lowered the temperature? You may require a professional water heater repair service to replace filters or clean out sediment buildup.
“My water heater leaks!”
Unfortunately, there is no DIY solution for a water heater that’s leaking. It is best to call a professional immediately, as a professional plumber can identify the cause of the leak, and fix it when possible. Sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank may have corroded the water heater, resulting in a leak. In this case, water heater replacement is needed. In other cases, an inlet or outlet valve or supply pipe could be repaired or replaced to fix the problem.
MainLine Plumbing offers a variety of water heater repair services in Lighthouse Point, FL that can include replacement parts, component repairs, and even full water heater replacement.
Call us at 954-466-1716 today if you’re worried about your water heater! We can help!
Photo By ALMAGAMI at Shutterstock
Author Bio:
Andrew Dilaurenzio
The primary contact at Mainline Plumbing Service, you can contact Mainline Plumbing Service by phone using this number 954-466-9803. They provide 100% guaranteed customer service. They do it all. Water heaters, sewer camera video inspection, drain cleaning, slab leak repairs, leak detection, sewer line repairs, and much more.