When To Call For Water Heater Repair And When To Get A Replacement | Myrtle Beach, SC

3/10/2022

The water heater lasts an average of 9 to 12 years. After the 10th year or so, your water heater will be operating on borrowed time. Replacing your water heater before it totally fails, can prevent property damage, and in return, save on cost. The key to proper water heater repair and maintenance is hiring a professional and reliable plumber. Having a licensed and trustworthy plumber on call will help reduce malfunctions and protect appliances. Water heaters should be maintained at least once or twice a year. Once your professional plumber notices signs of water heater appliance decay, it would be beneficial to simply opt for a replacement as opposed to a repair. If you live in or around the Myrtle Beach, SC, area, and are in need of plumbing service, contact the staff at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach today.

Water Heater Basics

To understand when you need to contact a plumber for water heater repair, it is important to understand how the water heater is supposed to work. There is a decent variety of water heaters available on the market. The most common water heater in the US is known as the conventional water heater. The conventional water heater is sometimes referred to as the storage-tank water heater. This is because this type of water heater is attached to either a 40 gallon or 60-gallon tank. It is likely that you have or currently own this water heater variety. These appliances can typically be found in the basement, attic, or garage of a property. If you are not sure what type of water heater you own, or where to locate it, you should look through your home owner’s manual. If the information is still not available, contact your local water heater professional for assistance.

Water heaters are part of the water supply system. A dip tube is used to transfer some of the cold water flowing through your plumbing system into the tank. The tank is typically between 40 and 60 gallons. There are other tank sizes; however, these are the most common sizes. The tank is used to both heat and store the water. These tanks must be maintained at least once a year to prevent tank decay and leakage from occurring. If your tank is over 10 years of age, it may be beneficial to have your tank serviced at least twice a year. If you have yet to have a water heater maintenance service, contact a professional for water heater repair.

A neglected water heater can lead to a myriad of problems. When it comes to plumbing appliances, it is best to air on the side of caution and it is serviced as much as experts recommend. Plumbing appliances have tendencies to malfunction without regular maintenance. If you own property in the Myrtle Beach, SC, area, contact the staff at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach for water heater maintenance and repair services today.

When to Contact a Professional for Water Heater Repair

Noisy

Is your water heater making a banging or sizzling noise? If so, contact your local plumbing professional for urgent water heater repair. Although water heaters aren’t silent appliances, they aren’t usually classified as noisy machines. Normal noises you should hear from a water heater could be water moving, or being poured in via the dip tube. Any other type of noise discovered in your water heater system could be due to maintenance neglect or other issues.

Banging noises in the water heater is typically due to something known as sediment build-up. Sediment is minerals that have begun clumping together. The minerals in the water will sometimes stay inside the tank. Over time, these minerals will begin clumping together leading to sediment build-up. When sediment clumps together it becomes hardened like a rock. These rock-like minerals will begin to knock around in the tank causing erosion and divets in the appliance. Sedimentary rock has the power to cause leaks over time. To avoid sediment build-up, your local water heater repair professional will flush the tank at least once or twice a year. Flushing the tank should only be handled by a professional to prevent property damage and personal injury.

Water Is Not Heating Fast Enough

It is common for a hot water heater to run out of hot water. When this happens, the tank begins refiling and heating the water. This process should not take long, the average time it takes to heat water in a heating tank is between 30 and 45 minutes. If your water takes longer to heat up, this could be an indication that your water heater is in need of water heater repair service. If your water is taking long to heat, it could mean you have a faulty heating element or a malfunctioning thermostat. If your water heater is powered by gas, it could have something to do with the burner. Either way, it is best to contact a reliable plumber for water heater repair and inspection.

Tank Leak

A tank leak is very easily identified. Water heater tank leaks will leak gallons of water all over the floor, causing flooding and water damage. Tank leaks require immediate water heater repair services. Unfortunately, there is no logical way to repair a tank leak, the only way to fix this issue is by replacing the entire tank. Tank replacements can be an alarming and unexpected financial obligation. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid tank leaks and ensure you are not caught off guard again.

The best way to avoid common water heater malfunctions, such as tank leaks and sediment build-up, is imperative, you have a professional plumber regularly maintain your plumbing system from time to time. Expert plumbing professionals suggest you have your plumbing system maintained at least once or twice a year. This will ensure your appliances work as efficiently and as long as possible. A consistent professional inspection of appliances such as the water heater will ensure malfunctions such as leaks, and tank decay is addressed before they happen. If you live in or around the Myrtle Beach, SC, area, and are in need of water heater repair or plumbing service, contact the staff at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach.

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