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7 Essential Tools For Effective Water Heater Repair | Conway, SC
One of the better reasons for relying on a licensed, insured and qualified plumber with several years of experience to undertake water heater repair in Conway, SC is that experienced plumbers often have a well-stocked tool chest of reliable, effective tools that will speed up the repair process. Some of the best tools that an experienced plumber has at their disposal include:
1/2-Inch Ratchets
A good ratchet will allow a plumber to remove anode rods quickly and easily. Ratcheting wrenches lock in a single direction, which allows the user to turn the handle backwards and tighten the bolt without having to re-tighten the tool.
Anodes typically come with a hexagonal head. While you can remove anode rods during a water heater repair service using a typical wrench, it is much more efficient to use a ratchet.
1-1/16 Inch Sockets
Typically, 1-1/6th is the socket size needed to remove the anode rods found in most water heaters. You can choose to use a socket with a star- or hex-shaped head. While the former is more convenient, it can be harder to fit onto the hexagon nut. The latter may also cause problems with the edges of your hex nuts, wearing them down unnecessarily and causing further water heater repair demands.
Crescent and Basin Wrenches
You can use them together or separately to deal with drain valves on water heaters. Basin wrenches have a long, square shaft and a T-shaped handle. They also have a curved serrated edge. This is also known as a faucet wrench, and it’s used to attach plumbing fixtures.
The crescent wrench, also known as an adjustable wrench, can be found in nearly every Conway, SC home. You can open the lower jaw with the spiral screw and accommodate a wider variety of nuts. You can also use it to hold a basin wrench and add more power to nut adjustments made during a water heater repair service.
Breaker Bars
Sometimes, the hex head on the anode rod is not easy to loosen with a basic wrench, so you can add a breaker (cheater) bar to increase torque. These socket wrenches are long-handled and non-ratcheting. They are longer and can produce more torque, which makes it easier to loosen tight nuts. Anode rods can become extremely tight over time so a breaker bar might be required to loosen the hex head if it’s being stubborn and unmoving.
The breaker bar is usually only used for a fraction of a turn before switching to a regular wrench during a water heater repair. Therefore, most DIY-ers often use hollow pipes to extend their ratchet wrench instead of investing in a true breaker bar.
Pipe Wrench
Pipe wrenches are specialized, adjustable wrenches primarily used by plumbers to attach metal fittings. However, they can also be found in some pre-packaged hardware store toolbox kits, so this tool may seem familiar to you. For better grip, the F-shaped head features serrated jaws and a stronger body than other adjustable wrenches. To reduce scratches caused by the wrench’s teeth, plumbers can dampen the serrated edge by covering it with cloth
The top jaw, unlike most adjustable wrenches used in water heater repair, is the one that moves on pipe wrenches. Like many tools, they can become rusty over time if not cleaned and stored professionally.
Copper Pipe Cutters
A copper tube cutter is mostly used for water heater installation. However, it can also be required for maintenance, if a pipe has become damaged or springs a leak. Pipe cutters use a sharp wheel with adjustable jaw grips. While designed for cutting copper, this tool can also cut through PVC and CPVC pipes.
Tongue and Groove Pliers
The tongue and groove pliers, popularized by Channellock, are a type of adjustable pliers that feature a toothed groove at the upper jaw. The lower jaw can be locked in a variety of positions, to turn nuts and bolts of different sizes during a water heater repair service.
The angle of the jaws makes tongue and groove tools more useful than wrenches in certain situations. They are useful in tight spaces where it’s hard to get the right angle or exposure to remove nuts and bolts.
Aside from generic plumbing tools of the trade, a plumber with experience installing, maintaining, and replacing water heaters will often have the following elements close by, for speedy replacement of the most commonly failed components:
- Heating elements
- Pilot lights
- Seals and gaskets
- Thermostats
- Tubes
- Valves, inc. TPR
- Anodes
- Screws
- Fuses
- Caps
Many experienced plumbers drive trucks well-stocked with components that fit most major water heater brands, including Rheem, Bosch and Siemens. When you choose a reliable, long-time plumber for water heater repair, there’s less likely to be wait times for component orders as the most common parts are kept in stock at all times.
These are the signs to look for when your water heater is not working properly, and requires the attention of a plumber with professional tools:
- Irregular water temperatures
Are you finding that your water is not always as hot as it needs to be? Perhaps it is lukewarm, or even cold? Fluctuating water temperatures can be a sign that your heater is not working properly.
- Water discoloration
It is important to remember that water from your tap should be as clear as possible. High pressure can cause it to appear cloudy at times, but once the pressure is equal, it should run clear. Your water heater is often responsible for the unpleasant brownish, rusty water color, typically caused by a sediment build-up or corrosion in the tank.
- Odd noises
A little noise from your water heater is normal. If the noise is loud, popping, crackling or banging, then it’s time to be concerned.
Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach – Conway, SC, for water heater repair if you notice symptoms of a failing heater. Our professional plumbers have access to a wide variety of tools and components to get the job done right, first time.