Is taking a bath getting a little colder these days? Then, it may be the time to learn how to diagnose a damaged water heater. Your invaluable home appliance must be having troubles and you just do not know it.
Hot water is used in various ways at home. This is why it is important to know the most common signs of water heater failure. The more you know, the more chances of taking necessary actions to fix the problem.
Common Problems On Water Heaters You Should Keep Your Eyes On
Since hot water is an everyday thing, it is not that hard to notice when something is wrong with your water heater. Here are the common signs of damage and their causes.
Lack or absence of hot water
When there is a lot of water on your tank but no hot water is coming out, you know you need to act. There might be a problem with your heat source.
If you have an electric water heater, the cause may be a failure on heating elements or the electrical connection might have been affected. For a gas water heater, the common reason could be a faulty gas connection or a bad pilot light.
Water leaks
This is perhaps the most common water heater issue. Spontaneously, water leaks will eventually happen as naturally, water will cause corrosion on your tank and create small fractures and cracks as time goes by.
However, water leaks do not automatically mean that it is the tank that is leaking. Cold and hot pipes might be loosely connected so you have to also check them out.
Weird smell in hot water
When the hot water smells strange, there could be a build of bacteria in your tank. If you notice this, refrain from using the water in the meantime until you address the issue.
Reheating takes ages
Have you been waiting too long yet the water is still cold? Then, you could be facing one of a number of possible issues. There might be a gas connection problem or you have set your thermostat too low.
Water too cold or too hot
Were you chilled with water that is too cold or burnt with water that is too hot? Did you adjust so much and yet the water temperature still doesn’t sit right? This means that there is a problem with your thermostat so you have to check it out immediately.
Low water pressure
In old homes, ½” plumbing is most commonly installed and this limits the water pressure. Larger plumbing of ¾” is more capable of managing a greater amount of water output. If the size is not the problem, then check if the pipes are not clogged.
Fixing Common Signs Of Water Heater Failure
Of course, it is not enough to just know that there is damage, you have to act on it. Here are some of the ways to deal with water heater failure:
1. Stopping water leaks
When there is a water leak, it can be fixed depending on the cause. If pipe connections are loose, then make sure to solidly connect them back so water will stop leaking.
If the leak is coming from the bottom of your tank, then the problem must be with the condensation. In this case, you just have to turn up the thermostat. When corrosion is present, you can’t do anything but replace your water heater as early as possible.
2. Generating hot water
When the water is not getting hot, you should check the ignition system. If there is a problem, call a technician immediately to repair it.
For the electronic ignition system, check the breaker box and see if the circuit was tripped. If so, reset it and the water will surely heat up.
If the water is taking too long to reheat, check the gas connection for possible clogging. A dirty vent flue and a dirty burner orifice must be cleaned immediately to fix the problem.
3. Getting rid of a strange smell in the water
When the hot water smells weird, it can easily be fixed. You just have to turn the temperature up to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat will kill any bacteria in the tank that cause a foul smell.
When doing this, make sure to not use the water or you’ll burn your skin and injure yourself. Turn the temperature up for an hour or so, turn it down after, and wait for several hours before use. If the problem persists, you might have to clean your tank using a chlorine bleach solution.
Conclusion
Hot water is our daily company in our everyday lives. When it is not present, it may cause a frustrating or screeching halt at home. This makes water heater failure a problem that requires an urgent solution.
It is enough to be sensitive but you have to be knowledgeable of how to do things right. Knowing how to diagnose a damaged water heater will save you from nuisance. You don’t need to endure the cold when taking a bath, you just have to know and check it yourself.