You depend on your water heater every day to provide you with hot water. The more you know about how it works, and the more common faults you know about, the better off you’ll be when something breaks.
A water heater issue can cause major disruption, but it’s much easier to identify and fix the problems yourself if you know what you’re looking for.
Now, let’s take a look at the things you need to know about when it comes to repairing your water heater.
1) Cold Water
If you come home from work and the water coming out of the shower feels like ice cubes, there’s a good chance that your water heater is at fault.
The water coming out of your hot water faucet should be hot to the touch but shouldn’t burn you. Your water heater should be the first suspect when your water temperature drops below the “comfort zone.”
2) Smelly Water
When water sits in a tank, it can easily get contaminated by rust, sediment, and bacteria. If your water smells like rotten eggs or fish, it’s possible that the tank is at fault.
You can do a few things if your water has developed a funky smell. If you’re getting water from a private well, run the water for a few minutes to clear up whatever may be in there. If you’re getting water from a municipality, call the water company and ask them if the water has been treated with chlorine. If it has, let the water sit for 30 minutes to make sure the chlorine has had a chance to dissipate.
3) Slow Heating
The water coming out of your hot water faucet should be hot, right? But if the water coming out of your faucet is room temperature and takes a long time to get hot, something is wrong.
There are several reasons why your water heater might take longer to heat up. The first reason is that you’re using more hot water than usual, so the water heater has a hard time keeping up.
Another reason is that you’re using hot water faster than the tank can heat it. This is usually due to a small tank that needs to be replaced.
4) Less Water Pressure
When a problem develops with your water heater, it’s not just the temperature of your water that can change—your water pressure can drop as well.
If your water pressure starts to get weak, there are a few possibilities. If you have an older house, your pipes may be corroded, reducing water pressure. If this is the case, you may need to have your pipes replaced.
5) Water Leaks
From the time you turn on the tap, water travels through thousands of miles of plumbing before it comes out of your faucet. Over time, your pipes can become damaged, which can lead to leaks.
The easiest way to detect a leak is to look out for it. If you notice water pooling on the floor or hear a drip or gurgling sound, there’s a good chance that you have a leak.
Conclusion
There are a lot of things you should and shouldn’t do when you’re working on your water heater, so you should always make sure you have a professional working with you.
If you are experiencing any of these issues, Wooten Knockout Plumbing is here to help. We are one of the plumbing companies in Tulsa that offers water heater repair services. Get in touch with us today for your plumbing fixes.
