Water heaters are so important you probably couldn’t live without them. Even if your home is not in an area with cold winters, the water heater is still an essential home appliance, says Keyrenter Management. That is why issues with the water heater can be very distressing.
Water heaters make it possible to have warm water on demand for various occasions; a hot shower, washing your hands, or cleaning the dishes. However, because they are constantly being used, water heaters are liable to break down.
If you know how to detect the issues with your water heater, you may be able to keep the flow of hot water in your home constant. What are the common problems homeowners encounter with their water heater and how can you identify or resolve these problems?
The water heater is not producing hot water
If there is no hot water from the water heater, the appliance may not be getting power. Possible causes of the problem include tripped limit switch or failed heating element. To resolve the issue, check the water heater’s circuit breaker inside the service panel. If it has tripped, switch it on. If it hasn’t, switch it off and on.
Although this action might restore power to the water heater, it will not resolve the underlying issue that caused the breaker to trip in the first place. To prevent future problems, get a technician to inspect the system.
But what if the water heater’s breaker did not trip; the appliance is on but not producing any hot water? In this case, you may need to reset the water heater’s high-temperature limit.
To do this, you need to turn the breaker off from the service panel, remove the access panel, insulation, and plastic safety guard, then press the red reset button, replace the removed components, and turn on the breaker. If this doesn’t work, you might need to test and replace one or both of the system’s heating elements.
The water heater is producing insufficient hot water
The water heater may be producing hot water but not enough to meet your demands. If you have this problem, first ensure that the demand on the water heater does not exceed its capacity.
Here is how to tell if a water heater has enough capacity to meet the demand placed on it: the appliance will only have 75% of its capacity as hot water. For instance, you can only get 30 gallons of hot water from a 40-gallon water heater. If the demand exceeds what the heater can produce, you need to change your appliance or your habits.
To combat this problem, you can install low-flow showerheads to reduce water usage, take shorter showers, or do dishwashing and laundry at different times of the day. If these options are not suitable, the only thing left is to install a bigger water heater.
However, if the water heater used to produce enough hot water in the past, the problem may be a damaged heating element. Inspect the heating elements and replace them.
The water heater is producing excessively hot water
This is one of the most unpleasant and even dangerous water heater problems. This issue is caused by a thermostat that is set too high. To fix the problem turn the water heater off from the service panel, remove the access panel, insulation, and plastic safety guard, and then check heat settings on both thermostats. Make sure power is off before you do this.
The thermostat setting should be between 115-125 degrees. To change to the setting you want, adjust with a flathead screwdriver. Do this with both thermostats.
The water heater is leaking
Leaking valves and faulty connections are the primary causes of water heater leaks. But leaks may also be the result of problems with the tank. A leaking water heater will not only deprive you of hot water, but it will also subject your home to the risk of water damage. The problem must be solved quickly. To stop leaks that are caused by corrosion, get an expert to drain and repair the tank.
The leak may also be coming from the plumbing pipes above the heater. Use a stepladder, to get up close to inspect the pipes for wetness. The appliance may also be leaking at the drain valve below the water heater or the nipple which connects the cold water inlet pipe to the water heater. All these should be inspected.
The water heater is producing rust-colored or smelly water
These two problems are usually caused by sedimentation or corrosion inside the tank. Smelly water could also be from the proliferation of bacteria in the water heater tank. If the water heater has a lot of sediments, it needs to be cleaned. If it is a problem with bacteria, the anode may need to be replaced.
The water heater is making noises
A rumbling and popping sound or a high-pitched whine from the water heater is either caused by boiling water or sediment buildup in the appliance. If the water is boiling inside your water heater, it could be because sediment at the bottom of the appliance is causing the tank to overheat. To get rid of the sediment, the tank should be drained.