The appliances in your Lighthouse Point, FL home are designed to make your life easier and more convenient. For example, your dishwasher does the dishes for you, and your refrigerator keeps your food cold. Your water heater is an essential appliance because it’s a critical part of your plumbing system. The water that fills the tank is cold, and the unit heats and stores the water, so it’s there when you need it. You rely on hot water for many daily household activities, and a broken water heater can disrupt your life.
Most people install their water heaters in the basement, a closet, or another hidden area, and you don’t see them often. If there’s an issue with the water heater and the unit is hidden, you may not realize it for a while, and waiting can cause further damage. If you don’t see the water heater in the main living area, it’s best to check the water heater twice a month to ensure it functions correctly.
If your unit experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair.
#1 Moisture or Water Pooling Around the Unit
The area around your water heater should always be dry, and if there’s moisture or pooling water around the unit, it’s time to call a professional in water heater repair in Lighthouse, FL.
Moisture on the walls, floor, or the unit often indicates a loose, broken, or clogged hose. This is an easy fix, and waiting too long to call a professional can result in water damage and mold.
Pooling water around the unit indicates a leak, which requires emergency repair. Leaks can occur due to large pieces of sediment banging against the inside of the tank, causing a fracture. If your water heater is over ten years old, it’s reached the end of its lifespan, and the tank has failed. This is a serious problem because 50+ gallons of water can flood your home, causing significant water damage and mold growth. A leaking tank cannot be repaired, and you’ll need to replace the water heater.
#2 You Frequently Run Out of Hot Water
It’s not uncommon to run out of hot water after multiple people shower, or you run the washing machine or dishwasher when the shower runs. However, if you run out of hot water often, you’ll need to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair in Lighthouse Point.
If your water heater isn’t large enough to meet your hot water demand, you’ll frequently run out of hot water. Your hot water demand can increase if someone new moved into your house or you recently installed your first washing machine or dishwasher. If a high hot water demand is the problem, you’ll have to replace the unit with a larger one or a tankless water heater that provides hot water on demand.
Sediment buildup can also be a problem. Over time, sediment will form in the water tank. If you don’t have the unit drained and flushed every year, the pieces of sediment can get large, taking up space meant for water storage, and you’ll run out of water often. If a plumber specializing in water heater repair cannot flush the sediment, you’ll have to replace the unit if you want to take hot showers again.
#3 There’s No Hot Water
A lack of hot water is the most obvious sign that you need to hire a plumber for repair. You should check a few things first to avoid an unnecessary service call.
- Propane or oil-fueled water heaters: Make sure the pilot is lit, and there’s fuel in the tank.
- Electric: Make sure a circuit hasn’t tripped, and there’s power going to the unit.
- Natural gas: Make sure the pilot is lit and check with a neighbor or the gas company to rule out an outage.
If everything checks out, it’s time to call a plumber. A couple of issues can cause a lack of hot water in your Lighthouse Point, FL home, including:
- Broken heating element: If the heating element has failed, the water in the tank won’t heat up. A plumber who handles water heater repair can inspect the heating element to get it running again, restoring the hot water.
- The unit reached its lifespan: If your water heater is over ten years old, it has likely reached the end of its lifespan and can no longer work efficiently and cannot heat the water.
#4 Lukewarm Water
If you run the hot water and it doesn’t get hotter than lukewarm, you may need to hire a plumber. Before making the call, check the thermostat setting. The EPA recommends keeping the thermostat set to 120 degrees, which is hot enough to perform daily tasks without being scalded. If the thermostat is set well below 120 degrees, adjusting should solve the problem. If the thermostat is correctly set, it’s time to schedule an appointment for water heater repair.
If your unit has two heating elements and one fails, the remaining heating element won’t have the power to heat the tank to 120 degrees.
There could also be an issue with the thermostat. If it isn’t working, the unit won’t heat the water to the desired temperature, and you’ll need a plumber to solve the problem.
#5 Strange Sounds
Your water heater should be whisper quiet when it runs, and if you hear any strange sounds, it’s best to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair in Lighthouse Point, FL.
A banging sound indicates large pieces of sediment that bang against the inside of the tank and allow the problem to persist can create a crack in the tank, resulting in a flood.
A popping sound indicates sediment in the bottom of the tank. When the water boils, it will create a popping sound.
If the plumber cannot flush the sediment, you’ll need to replace the unit.
Call MainLine Plumbing Today
If you need to schedule an appointment for water heater repair, call MainLine Plumbing. We are a full-service plumbing company, and our plumbers specialize in water heater repair, maintenance, and installation. We also provide various plumbing services and offer emergency service. If you have a plumbing issue that can’t wait, we’ll get someone to your home as quickly as possible.
To schedule an appointment, give us a call today.
Photo By Maridav 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.