No Hot Water? Water Heater Repair | Myrtle Beach, SC

3/30/2020

Photo By Дерябин Андрей Николаевич at istock

Having a problem with your plumbing system is never fun, but it’s especially disappointing when you realize you have no hot water to shower early in the morning before heading to work. If you have no hot water and suspect you have a problem with your water heater, you need to call a water heater repair expert. Not only can a professional get your water heater fixed so you can return to normal life, they’ll do it safely. If you’re wondering what’s wrong with the water heater in your home, this should help clear things up in the meantime.

Elements

Your water heater needs a good bit of heating power to heat up all the water your home needs on a daily basis, which is why electric water heaters are equipped with two different elements. Both the lower and upper element are located inside the tank, though, so they’re a frequently neglected water heater repair.

If you’re not getting enough hot water or simply not getting any hot water at all, there’s a good chance it has something to do with a faulty element. These elements can go bad over time due to corrosion and other factors. Fortunately, a repair specialist can replace one or both elements inside your water heater to make sure everybody in your home has access to plenty of hot water.

Thermostat

In order to serve you best, your hot water heater needs to do more than just heat water to be delivered to your home. That water needs to be the right temperature so it’s free of bacteria but also not a burn hazard. Your water heater makes sure it’s getting water to the right temperature using a thermostat in combination with the elements.

When the thermostat in your water heater goes bad, there’s essentially nothing to tell the elements how much to heat the water. This could result in inconsistent water temperatures or it could mean you don’t have any hot water at all. Regardless of the outcome, you should always call a water heater repair company if you’ve got a bad thermostat. Using water from a water heater that’s too hot or too cold poses several health risks that you don’t want to expose yourself to.

Pilot Light

If you’ve got a gas water heater in your Myrtle Beach, SC, home, there needs to be some sort of ignition to heat up the water. A problem with your pilot light may actually indicate a problem with another part of your water heater, so it’s important to have a water heater repair expert take a look to make sure.

In some cases, you may be able to light your pilot light but it won’t stay lit. This is a classic symptom of a defective control thermostat. This will cause serious issues when it comes to providing your home with hot water, so you should have a trained professional deal with it right away.

Leaks

You count on your water heater to hold a tank full of hot water all the time, so a leak is a big problem when it comes to your hot water supply. The fact of the matter is, there are numerous things that can cause a leak in your water heater. No matter why your water heater is leaking, though, you need to get it fixed right away.

In most cases, a leaking water heater simply needs to be replaced. There are cases where repairs can be done to fix the water heater, but it’s generally not worth it if the tank itself is badly damaged. If you’ve got holes in your water heater or it’s simply starting to fall apart, it’s probably best to opt for a replacement water heater over water heater repair.

Breaker Switch

As unlikely as it may sound, there are plenty of situations where getting your hot water back is as simple as checking your electrical service panel to see if a breaker switch is off. These breaker switches control everything connected to your home’s electrical system, and they shut off when a circuit is overloaded.

If you know where your service panel is, look for the water heater switch before you call a water heater repair company. These switches are generally labeled so they’re easy to find. If that switch is in a different position than all the other switches, flip it the other way and see if your water heater works again.

Corrosion

Even if you keep up with regular maintenance and water heater repairs, there’s one problem you’ll always have to deal with: corrosion. Corrosion is such a big problem in water heaters that there’s a sacrificial anode which prevents the tank from rusting and corroding. Unfortunately, these sacrificial anodes only last for so long, at which point your tank begins taking the brunt of the damage.

If a water heater repair specialist tells you your tank is corroded and leaking, the best thing you can do is simply replace your water heater. Even if you do patch up a leak, it’s only going to get worse over time. You may actually save money in the long run if you simply buy a new water heater instead of spending money repairing yours.

The Quick Fix

Keeping all the fixtures and appliances in your home in good shape is tough work. If you really want to be a responsible homeowner, you need to make sure you’re calling a professional plumber whenever you’ve got a problem that needs to be fixed.

At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach, SC, we have water heater experts who can help you keep your home supplied with hot water. Whether you need water heater repairs or a little bit of maintenance, we’ll get the job done right the first time. Give Benjamin Franklin Plumbing a call at 843-213-6611 to set up an appointment today.