Troubleshooting Water Heater Problems

Troubleshooting Water Heater Problems

You always want your hot water heater in good working condition. Regular maintenance can eliminate major problems, but sometimes issues occur that need to be fixed. In many cases, you can easily diagnose the problem.

Here Are Some Typical Hot Water Heater Problems:

Water Temperature Problems
When water is too hot or not hot enough, the solution is to change the temperature of the water. On the front of the water heater is the temperature dial. It is used to increase or lower the temperature. If the water is now at a comfortable level, then there is nothing else to do.

Not Enough Hot Water
If you frequently run out of hot water, then your tank may be too small. Upgrading to a larger tank is one way to increase the volume of hot water in your home. Another option is a tankless hot water heater. These units heat the water as it goes through the system so you always have hot water.

Discolored Water
If water is discolored, it’s usually the result of mineral deposits such as copper or iron in the source water. The best solution is using a whole house water filtration system. Another option is using a water softener.

Foul Smelling Water
If you notice that the hot water has a bad smell, you need to determine if it’s because of your source water or your water heater. If the cold water also has a bad odor, then the culprit is probably the source water. A water filter or water softener solves this problem. However, if only the hot water smells bad, the problem, most likely, is the water heater.

Sometimes the anode rod of the heater has a bad reaction with water which has a high level of sulfates. The solution is to completely flush the hot water tank. If this doesn’t work, you need to hire a professional to replace the anode rod.

With a storage water heater, you may face a few problems now and again. Although most issues are easily fixed, we recommend, that you call one of our plumbing experts for all your plumbing needs from routine checkups to installation of new equipment.

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