Trying to Fix Your Water Heater? Leave It to the Professionals
Water heater repair and installation is something that should be left to professional plumbers. There are many different types of connections required for the hot water heater to work correctly, including:
- Electrical Wiring
- Hot and Cold Water Supply Lines
- Electrical Shutoff Switch
- Gas Lines
- Venting
- Overflow Plumbing/Draining
Most of these are well beyond the scope and abilities of even the most seasoned DIYer (Do-It-Yourselfer).
Here at MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning, you can rest easy knowing your new water heater is installed correctly and safely, and that it meets your hot water demands. However, there are certain troubleshooting and diagnostic tasks you can complete ahead of time before calling a plumber.
Problem 1: Not Enough Hot Water
If your hot water needs have changed recently—for instance, you have house guests, new roommates, or are using more hot water—your water heater may not be keeping up with your demand. The first place to start is to check the hot water temperature dial and the heater.
If it is set too low, then this could be the cause, so you want to turn it up about five or ten degrees and see if this resolves the issue. If you are still running out of hot water, you may need a bigger tank or need to upgrade to a tankless heater to meet your hot water demands.
Problem 2: The Water Is Too Hot
With this problem, simply check the temperature gauge on the tank and turn it down five to ten degrees. If you notice it sounds like the water is boiling inside the tank, then you need to shut off the water heater and contact a plumber immediately. It is recommended to stay away from the area where the water heater is located, as pressure is building inside the tank, and it could explode.
Problem 3: The Water Is Cold
For gas water heaters, verify the pilot light is lit. If it is not, shut off the gas and ventilate the room if there is a strong gas smell. Wait several hours before attempting to relight the pilot. Once relit, if it does not stay lit or keeps going out, call a pro to get this fixed.
With electric water heaters, check to see if the breaker switch has blown, and reset it. Next, check the electrical switch, which should be located near the water heater, to make sure that it did not get shut off. After making these checks, if you still have no hot water, the heating elements may have failed and need to be replaced.
Problem 4: The Water Smells or Is Discolored
If both your hot and cold water have this problem, you may need a whole house water filtration system installed. If it is just the hot water, there could be mineral deposits and other sediments inside the tank, indicating the tank needs to be flushed. Flushing should always be done by a professional because of the risks of pressurized scalding hot water.
If you have other problems not mentioned above, or your water heater needs to be repaired or replaced, please feel free to contact MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning at 281-599-3336 today!
