7 Signs It’s Time To Schedule An Appointment For Water Heater Repair | San Antonio, TX
Every appliance in your San Antonio, TX home is designed to make your life easier and more convenient, and some appliances are more important than others. For example, if your washing machine or dryer breaks down, you can go to the laundromat to do your wash. If your dishwasher breaks down, you can wash the dishes by hand until the appliance is repaired.
Your water heater is one home appliance you can’t live without, and it’s an essential part of your plumbing system.
When water comes into your home, it’s cold, and the water fills the water tank, where it’s heated and stored until you need it. You rely on hot water for many daily household activities, such as showering, cooking, and cleaning. If your water heater isn’t working correctly, it can affect the water temperature and safety, making life in your home challenging.
Today, many homeowners are attempting DIY home repairs to save money; however, a DIY water heater repair isn’t recommended. Water heaters are complex appliances, and one mistake can result in further damage. In addition, if your water heater is still under warranty, the DIY repair will void it, and it’s best to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair.
Most homeowners keep the water heater tucked away in the basement or in a closet to make the home more aesthetically pleasing. This is great for the appearance of your home, but it can prevent you from detecting issues as soon as they arise. It’s best to get into the habit of checking your water heater a couple of times a month to detect problems early.
If you notice any of the following issues during your routine inspection, it’s best to call a plumber right away.
#1 You Have No Hot Water
A lack of hot water is one of the most obvious signs that you need to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair. You should check a few things before making the call to avoid an unnecessary service call.
- Oil and propane water heaters: Make sure the pilot is lit and there is fuel in the tank.
- Electric water heaters: Make sure a circuit didn’t trip and there is power going to the unit.
- Natural gas water heaters: Make sure the pilot is lit and check your records to ensure your bills have been paid. Also, check with a neighbor of the gas company to rule out a widespread outage.
If everything checks out on your end, it’s time to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair. A couple of issues can cause a lack of hot water, and you’ll need a plumber specializing in water heaters to correctly diagnose the problem so it can be resolved.
- Faulty heating element: If the heating element isn’t working correctly, the water in the tank won’t stay heated, and you’ll have cold water coming from the hot water tap. A plumber can inspect the unit to determine if the heating element is the cause so that they can fix or replace it.
- The unit’s age: The average lifespan of a traditional tank water heater is between 8 and 12 years. If the unit is nearing the end of its lifespan, it won’t heat the water, and you’ll need to replace the unit.
- Fuel or energy issues: If something prevents the fuel from powering the water heater correctly, it won’t heat the water in the tank. The same is true if you have an electric water heater and there’s a wiring issue.
It’s best to call an expert in water heater repair as soon as the problem begins, allowing the hot water to be restored as quickly as possible.
#2 Lukewarm Water
When you run the hot water in your San Antonio, TX home, it should get hotter than lukewarm. If it doesn’t, check the thermostat. The EPA recommends setting a water heater thermostat to 120 to 140 degrees, which is hot enough but not so hot that you’ll get scalded. If the thermostat is set incorrectly, adjusting it should solve the problem. You should also consider the temperature outside. When it is very cold out, the water will be colder than usual when it enters the tank, and it will take longer for the water to heat up. If it isn’t freezing outside and the thermostat is set correctly, you’ll need to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair.
One common cause is a faulty thermostat. If the thermostat isn’t working, the unit won’t heat the water to the desired temperature. If you have a water heater with two heating elements, one may have failed, and the functional heating element won’t have enough power to heat the water hotter than lukewarm.
The sooner you schedule an appointment for water heater repair, the sooner you’ll have hot water again.
#3 You Run Out of Hot Water Often
It’s not uncommon to run out of hot water occasionally. When multiple family members take showers one after the other, or you’re running multiple hot water-based appliances while your family showers, there won’t be enough hot water for you. However, if you run out of hot water often, it’s best to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair. A cold shower is a horrible way to start the day, and a plumber can help.
One common cause of this problem is your hot water demand. If someone new moved into your San Antonio, TX home, or you recently installed your first dishwasher or washing machine, your existing water heater may not be large enough to meet your family’s hot water demand. Fortunately, this issue can be easily resolved by installing a water heater with a larger tank to handle your hot water demand. You can also go with a tankless model that doesn’t store water and heats the water only when you need it, and you won’t run out of hot water.
If your household circumstances haven’t changed, you have no new household members, and you haven’t installed new appliances, sediment can be to blame. Over time, sediment builds up in the water tank. When many large pieces accumulate in the tank, there won’t be as much room for water storage, and you’ll run out frequently. A professional in water heater repair can attempt to flush the sediment, but you’ll need to replace the water heater if they can’t.
#4 Strange Sounds
The water heater in your San Antonio, TX home should be whisper quiet. If you hear any strange sounds during your routine inspection, it’s best to hire a professional in water heater repair.
A banging sound indicates large pieces of sediment in the tank. Ignoring the problem isn’t an option because the sediment can crack the tank, causing 50+ gallons of water to leak and flood your home. If an expert in water heater repair can’t flush the sediment, you’ll need to replace the water heater.
A popping sound also indicates sediment in the water tank. When sediment builds up on the bottom of the water tank and water gets trapped underneath, it will boil, causing the popping sound.
#5 Poor Water Pressure
You rely on adequate water pressure to perform daily tasks, such as washing your hair and rinsing a dish. In addition, your water-based appliances need sufficient water pressure to function at peak performance.
If the hot and cold water pressure is poor, there is likely a clog or a leak in the pipes. If just the hot water pressure is inadequate, your water heater is to blame, and you’ll need to schedule an appointment for water heater repair.
When sediment builds up in the water tank in your San Antonio, TX home, it can clog the waterline, reducing the water pressure.
A professional in water heater repair can unclog the drain line; however, if they can’t flush the sediment from the unit, you’ll need to replace the water heater. If you don’t, it won’t be long before the drain line clogs again, and you’ll have to waste time and money on another service call.
Because adequate water pressure is so essential, it’s best to call a plumber as soon as the water pressure issue begins.
#6 Rust-Colored Water
When you run the water in your home, you expect it to come out clean and clear. If the water is rust-colored or has a brownish tint, you should call a plumber right away.
If the hot and cold water is discolored, there’s likely an old, corroded pipe somewhere in the plumbing system that’s contaminating the water. If just the hot water is discolored, the problem lies with the water heater.
When sediment builds up in the water tank, it can break apart and contaminate the water. A plumber specializing in water heater repair can try to flush the sediment from the tank to resolve the problem. If the sediment cannot be flushed, you’ll need to replace the water heater.
Your water heater’s age can also result in contamination. If the unit is nearing the end of its lifespan, the inside of the tank can start to break down, causing tiny metal shards and deposits to contaminate the water. If this is the case, there’s nothing a plumber can do except replace the water heater.
It isn’t safe to use contaminated water; therefore, it’s best to avoid using it until the problem has been resolved. If you have to use the water before your appointment for water heater repair, you should boil it first to ensure it’s safe.
#7 Moisture and Pooling Water
The area around the water heater in your San Antonio, TX home should always be dry. If the area around the unit is damp or you see water pooling, you should call a plumber specializing in water heater repair right away.
Moisture on the walls, floor, or the unit often indicates a loose, cracked, or clogged condensate hose. Although this is a relatively simple fix, it’s essential for you to call a plumber right away. The longer you allow the problem to persist, the risk of water damage and mold growth dramatically increases. The longer you wait to call an expert in water heater repair, the more expensive it will be to fix the water damage and eradicate the mold.
If you see water pooling around the unit, it’s best to schedule an emergency water heater repair appointment. The water is likely due to a crack in the water tank, which is very serious. Depending on the size of the crack, 50+ gallons of water can flood your home, and it can cost a fortune to remove the standing water, dry the area and repair any water damage. If mold growth has already occurred, it will increase the total cost significantly. Unfortunately, a water heater crack cannot be repaired, and you’ll need to call a plumber to replace the unit.
Why Choose bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio?
If you need to schedule an appointment for water heater repair and want to work with the best in the business, call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio. We are a full-service plumbing company and are a one-stop shop for all of your home repair needs.
Our plumbers are professionally trained and have the knowledge and experience to handle any job, regardless of how complex the repair will be.
We are members of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. In addition, we are a Google Guaranteed business with a 5-star rating.
We understand that plumbing issues can arise at the most inconvenient times, so we provide emergency service. If you need same-day service or a problem occurs outside of our regular business hours, we’ll do our best to get a plumber to your San Antonio, TX home as quickly as possible.
We realize many people live on a budget, especially today due to inflation, and we do our best to make our services affordable. Unlike many other plumbing companies in the area, we won’t expect you to play a trip charge, and if the work takes longer than expected, you won’t be charged an overtime charge, which can be very helpful when it comes time to pay the bill.
To schedule an appointment for water heater repair or any other plumbing service we provide, give us at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio a call or book online.
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