Winter Is Coming! How To Check If Your Water Heater Needs Repair or Replacement Before The Chills Get To You
To replace or not to replace, that is the question?
Are you having trouble with your water heater again? It’s frustrating to shower with cold water when you’ve spent big on installing a new hot water heater. Just like other appliances, your water heater will last longer if given proper maintenance.
Minor problems like replacing the heating element or changing the pressure-relief valve can easily be taken care of during regular maintenance checks. However, if the heater has been used for 10 years or more, chances are that it has duly served for a lifespan and needs a replacement.
The decision to repair or replace your hot water heater depends on a lot of factors. Here’s how to decide whether you need to go for plumbing repairs or buy a replacement.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
As obvious as it may seem, the most frequent complaint about water heaters is that it’s not heating the water enough. There could be several underlying reasons behind this. One could be a faulty thermostat or disturbed settings. Another could be because of a defective heating element.
Here’s what you can do when the water isn’t hot enough:
Electric Water Heater
- Reconnect to the power supply and reset the thermostat.
- Flush out the sediment from the tank
- Renew insulation on hot water pipes
- Renew the heating element or thermostat
- Increase the temperature on the thermostat
Gas Water Heater
- Recheck the gas supply and see if the pilot light is on
- Flush out the sediment from the tank
- Renew insulation on hot water pipes
- Check the gas burner
- Replace the thermocouple if it’s not working
- Increase the temperature on the thermostat
Apart from these cases, there can be other symptoms that are indirectly caused by one of the above mentioned problems. They include:
- Hissing sound from the appliance (it might be because of the sediment that has collected at the base due to lack of maintenance)
- Faulty pressure-relief valve (If the valve is leaking, it’s best to get it replaced)
- Defective water supply pipeline (Fix the fittings on the pipes if they’re leaking. If it still doesn’t work, replace the fittings entirely)
Water Heater Maintenance
Modern water heaters are engineered with innovative designs that have reduced the need for manual maintenance. However, going an extra mile for your water heaters can give you better value for money and a seamless hot water supply.
Clean the tank regularly. Flush out all the water and remove the sediment that’s corroding the tank. This will improve efficiency.
Lift the pressure-relief valve and let it go to check how well it’s functioning. If it doesn’t let a gush of water into the overflow drainpipe, you need a replacement.
Overheating can damage the tank in the long run. Don’t keep your thermostat settings consistently high. Lower the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Water Heater Replacement
If you’re unable to resolve your water heating issues with the help of above stated tips or professional repair services, it’s time for a replacement. But be careful when making a new purchase. If you’ve had problems with the performance of the last heater you had, don’t go for the same model or the same brand.
We offer tankless water heater installation Fort Worth TX. If your water heater is having any of the problems listed above, give us a call right away. We’re based in Aledo and offer services in Fort Worth as well. Let our experts help you decide whether a repair can resolve your issues or if replacement is the way to go.
