It wouldn’t be easy to do much of anything around your home if you didn’t have a residential water heater. You couldn’t shower, wash your clothes, or even do your dishes. Your water heater constantly works, so you can be sure you have hot water whenever you need it. Nevertheless, when your water heater is old and works too hard, it can lead to problems that may require a professional plumber. For that reason, in this article, our plumbing professionals at Narrow Path Plumbing will explain how to spot common water heater issues. We’ll also help you with solutions to guarantee your water heater is working correctly.
Do You Ever Have Difficulty Finding The Perfect Water Temperature?
If the water temperature in your home is irregular, you may be able to troubleshoot to figure out the problem. You could run into three types of water temperature problems: water being too cold, too hot, or warm but not hot enough. Below we explain the possible causes and how to address each of them.
● Water is only cold – If your home only has cold water, you could have one of these problems, a faulty heating element, defective thermostat, or a lack of power. If you have already tried to self-diagnose the problem by resetting any blown fuses or tripped breakers, then you may want to try checking the thermostat. If you still don’t have any hot water, check that the unit is turned on.
● Water is too hot – By recommendation of the US Department of Energy, your water heater should be set at 120 degrees. If your water is too hot, check if the thermostat is set too high.
● Water is not hot enough – If the water in your home seems to get warm but not necessarily hot, you should first check that the thermostat is set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If the thermostat is at the correct temperature, you could have a faulty heating element, an undersized water heater, a defective thermostat, or crossed cold and hot connections. The best way to check for crossed connections is to turn off the water supply and switch on a hot faucet. If the water from the hot tap still flows, but if it’s cold, you have a crossed connection. If that isn’t the issue, we suggest contacting your local plumbing professional to assess your water heater’s function.
Does Your Water Heater Leak?
Given that leaks in your water heater are widespread, there are also a lot of causes for this specific issue. Your leak could result from a stuck valve, improper water pressure, a bad gasket, faulty temperature or relief valve, loose heating element bolts, the water heater overheating, or a leak from a nearby plumbing connection. If you think one of these issues may be the problem, you should check for loose plumbing connections and heating element bolts and tighten them. Ultimately, if a leak is still present after following these steps, we advise calling one of our professionals at Narrow Path Plumbing to have them check your water heater for any faulty equipment.
Does Your Running Water Come Out Discolored?
If your running water is discolored, it may indicate that your water heater is rusted inside of the unit. Often, this can be the cause of a failing anode rod or an older water heater tank. With that being said, we suggest seeking a local plumber for their professional opinion. Whether you need your anode rod replaced or are in need of a completely new unit, our plumbing professionals are here to help!
We know you want your water heater working to the best of its ability. Our trusted plumbing professionals at Narrow Path Plumbing would love to help you! Call today at (937) 623-2619, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
