Common Causes of Water Heater Problems and Fixes

Almost every home is outfitted with a water heater that will run cold water through, heat, and store until ready for use.  Water heaters are a standard in today’s world and are a modern convenience many of us love, such as taking hot showers. However, the moment your water heater isn’t working it can turn a shower into an icy event. While some have experienced the not so thrilling cold rain because of running out of hot water due to water heater size, some common issues can cause a water heater to stop working. Many of the problems associated with a water heater will require a trained professional. Plumbers in Pittsburgh such as Kwiatkowski Plumbing will be able to pinpoint the exact problem and get it fixed quickly. If you aren’t comfortable with water heater repair, a plumber is your best bet.

Knowing what problems can happen with your water heater is one of the best ways to determine if you will need to install a new one. These are the most common fails that can happen, and some fixes you might be willing to try.

Sediment Buildup

Maintenance is a fundamental part of keeping your water heater in good working order. Neglecting to have an annual flush done, can result in sediment building up within the water heater. The buildup looks like white, green, or even yellow crusty crystals, and can interfere with the heating element doing its job. It can also cause water not to flow well from the heater itself. Most of the water heaters on the market have heating elements on the bottom of the tank. There is an access door usually in the front of the heater. Many useful websites can direct you how to perform a water heater flushing, such as https://www.artofmanliness.com/2016/05/05/how-to-flush-your-hot-water-heater/. Flushing your water heater is a great way to stop the buildup. It does require some working hours and can be somewhat challenging to do, but it is a possibility as to why water might be lukewarm.

Broken Dip Tube

A dip tubes job is to allow cold water to enter the hot water heater at the bottom. Since many water heaters heating elements are located on the bottom, this allows the water to heat up more quickly. A broken dip tube will allow water to sit at the top, and give enough time to heat properly. Replacing a defective dip tube isn’t as hard as it sounds. There are many how-to videos available online as well as how to articles such as how to replace a water heater dip tube from Dummies.com.

Faulty Parts in the Water Heater

Defective parts can happen over time. Maintenance is typically recommended on the hot water heater annually to ensure it lasts a long while. Most hot water heaters can be used for up to 15 years if properly maintained. However, experiencing problems with your water being lukewarm, or never thoroughly heating up might be caused these faulty parts:

• Thermostat
• Heating Element
• Thermal Switch

These issues with faulty parts are much more comfortable for a trained professional. Water heaters can be complicated, and not being aware of how to change these components could result in a significant malfunction of the unit. Kwiatkowski Plumbing offers 24 hours a day seven day a week service in Pittsburgh, PA on all plumbing issues including a hot water heater installation.