843.582.0670
What’s Wrong With My Water Heater? Call A Water Heater Repair Expert To Find Out | Conway, SC
There’s nothing quite as comforting as stepping into a hot shower in the morning, but what do you do if the water is cold? Water heater problems are more common than you might think, and they can leave your Conway, SC, home without hot water when you need it most. While there are steps you can take to avoid costly water heater repair and replacement, every water heater will have problems or stop working at some point. If your water heater is acting up and you’re not sure what’s causing it, here’s some advice from plumbing experts.
Leaks
(If your water bill is unusually high or you notice water dripping from or puddling up near your water heater, you may have a leak. Some water heater leaks are easy to fix by simply reinstalling the water heater while other leaky water heaters may need to be replaced.
The best-case scenario is that your leak isn’t coming from the water heater, but from the plumbing that connects it to your home. If a fitting or pipe is leaking, a water heater repair expert can simply replace the leaking section of the pipe. This is a simple repair that won’t cost you a lot of money.
In some cases, your water heater may be leaking from the tank itself, which is a much bigger problem in terms of water heater repair. There’s no reliable way to fix a leaking water heater tank, so you should replace your water heater if the tank is corroded and beginning to leak.
Water Temperature Problems
Water heaters use heating elements and thermostats to make sure your water is heated to the proper temperature, which helps keep you comfortable when you shower without risking scalding. However, you may notice that your water heater isn’t heating water anymore, or that it heats water too much.
If the water in your water heater is too cold, the first thing you should do is check your breaker box to see if there’s a tripped breaker. If the breaker is on, you may have a problem with a thermostat or heating element in your water heater. There are upper and lower thermostats and heating elements, so hiring a water heater repair company is important.
Is your water warm, but not quite as warm as you’d like it to be? You may have an undersized water heater, but you can rule that out if you’ve been using your water heater without problems for several months or years. This can also be related to a faulty thermostat or heating element. Before you call a water heater repair expert, you can try turning off the hot water supply and turning on a hot faucet. If it still flows, you have a crossed hot and cold line.
Water that’s too hot is typically a result of your thermostat settings. Setting your thermostat to a certain temperature helps eliminate legionella, but turning your thermostat up too high can cause scalding and waste energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 120 degrees Fahrenheit is the optimal temperature for your water heater.
Water Discoloration
You expect the water from your faucets to be clean and clear, so you might be alarmed if you notice discoloration when you’re showering, washing your hands, or doing dishes. The good news is that the color of your water probably isn’t caused by anything too serious.
In most cases, water discoloration is a result of corrosion inside a water heater tank. Water heaters have a sacrificial anode rod inside which is designed to corrode instead of the water heater tank. When this anode rod is badly corroded, it may lead to water discoloration. If you leave a bad anode rod in your water heater for too long, it can cause the actual tank of your water heater to become corroded, at which point you need to replace your water heater entirely.
If your water is discolored, call a water heater repair company to have us take a look. A plumbing expert can help you decide if you can get away with replacing your anode rod, or if you need a new water heater.
Strange Sounds
It’s not uncommon for water heaters to make a little bit of noise, but excessive noise is usually a sign that something is wrong. The good news is there’s a fix you can try before you call a Conway, SC, water heater repair company.
Most of the time, odd noises coming from your water heater are a result of sediment. This sediment comes from the water that passes through your water heater, so there’s no avoiding it. What you can do is flush your water heater occasionally to remove built-up sediment and prevent the problems it causes. Generally speaking, you should flush your water heater at least once a year.
If you flush your water heater and it’s still making strange sounds, it’s time to call a water heater repair expert. While odd noises can be a simple fix, sometimes you need to replace your water heater to get those noises to stop.
Fix Your Water Heater Today
Water heater problems can be so frustrating, especially if they leave you with no hot water in your Conway, SC, home. Unfortunately, water heaters only last for about a decade, so you can’t expect your water heater to work forever.
The good news is that Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach can help. If your water heater is too hot or too cold, we’ll check it out and take care of any water heater repairs. If you need a new water heater, we can help with that too. When you’re having trouble with your water heater, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach at (843) 582-0670 or contact us online.