A Professional Guide To Water Heater Repair | San Antonio, TX
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A water heater’s critical role is only emphasized when disaster strikes and stops working. There is nothing likable about showering using ice-cold water, especially with the varying Texas weather. From water heater leaks to broken circuit breakers, water heater damages are a major inconvenience, often needing emergency water heater repair.
Is your water heater malfunctioning at the least unexpected times? A local San Antonio, TX expert in repairing water will have your water heater up and running in no time. Check out this heater repair guide to know everything there is to know about water heater damages and repair.
Common Water Heater Problems
Although there are countless water heater models, they all suffer almost the same issues. Becoming familiar with most of them helps you avoid such from happening and know the precise services you anticipate from the local water heater tech.
Below are common reasons why you need a water heater repair expert:
1. No Hot Water
Providing hot water is the water heater’s core function. Possible reasons for lack of hot water depend on the water heater model your house is running—whether gas-powered or electric. The most obvious reason for lacking hot water is the water heater is not receiving any power. This could be because the circuit has been tripped or the fuse has blown.
A faulty heating element also causes your circuit to trip, leading to no hot water. Most water heaters typically feature two heating elements; one at the top and one at the bottom. If you don’t have hot water, one or both of these heating elements could be in dire need of repair or replacement.
2. Insufficient Hot Water/Water Is Not Hot Enough
Again, if you lack sufficient hot water, the reason will likely depend on the water heater type you use. If you have a tank water heater, insufficient hot water problems could be because the tank is not sizable enough. If the tank is too small for everyone within the household, expect to lack hot water occasionally. Fortunately, this problem requires a permanent solution like water heater replacement to accommodate your hot water needs instead of water heater repairs.
On the other hand, if your water heater produces sufficient hot water for everyone but suddenly no longer heats water sufficiently, your heating element could be failing. If you are using a tankless water heater and face the same issues, it could be that you are running multiple fixtures for the unit’s power. There is a high likelihood that your water heater is not sufficiently powerful for your requirements.
3. Extremely Hot Water
In such an instance, you probably have set the thermostat too high. If a simple turning down the thermostat doesn’t do the trick, contact your local San Antonio water heater expert, who will likely go for the temperature-pressure valve. A faulty temperature pressure valve leads to the water heater not shutting when reaching the desired temperature.
4. Water Heater Is Taking Too Long to Heat
Tankless water heaters are designed to heat water on the go. However, if it takes too long to heat water, chances are you have a problem with the burning elements. It could also be due to a faulty thermostat or sediment buildup on the heating elements. However, if you use a gas-powered water heater, the problem could be related to your burner. Have a local repair expert check out the cause and diagnose appropriately.
5. Water Leaks
Homeowners running hot water using traditional tank water heaters typically face this challenge once in a while. A leaking water heater tank is a major sign of internal corrosion. The more the interior tank’s lining corrodes, the easier water finds exit spaces. A corroded tank is a health hazard and is one of the significant causes of water leaks.
Water heater leaks also rise from loose connections or valves. Either way, water heater leaks undoubtedly spike your water bills and compromise your safety in proximity to electrical appliances and fixtures.
6. Dirty Colored Water
Are you noticing dirty rust-colored water from your heater? You are most likely dealing with corrosion inside your tank unit. An expert will most likely recommend immediate water heater replacement. The problem could also be due to a malfunctioning anode rod.
Therefore, before considering replacement, the technician will recommend flushing the tank and replacing the anode rod to check if the issue is persistent. The anode rod protects the tank from corrosion but is subject to eventual tear and wear, upon which an immediate replacement is highly recommendable.
7. Smelly Water
if you notice a terrible smell coming from your water heater, you are most likely dealing with bacteria. If the water smells like rotten eggs, the problem could be a malfunctioning anode rod. However, contact a water heater repair expert to check it out for you if you are unsure. Common remedies include a simple system flushing or cleaning the tank using chlorine bleach.
8. Strange Noises from Your Tank
There are several reasons why your water heater is making noises. It could be a scale buildup on the heating elements and in the tank, for starters. This typically creates banging, popping, and rumbling noises as the water heats.
However, you should note that pipes and water heaters may make sounds due to normal contraction and expansion due to heat. Such is harmless, and there is certainly nothing much a water heater repair expert can do about it. Call a repair tech to diagnose appropriately if you have difficulties distinguishing these sounds.
9. Pilot Light Is Not Turning On/Goes On and Off Unexpectedly
There are several reasons why you have problems with your pilot light. If it is not lighting, the light orifice is most likely blocked. It could also be due to a damaged or loose thermocouple. Another reason is a faulty gas valve or the gas line being filled with air.
On the other hand, if the pilot light goes on and off, it could be facing a similar experience. If your burner goes out, it could be that you are having the same issues to pilot light problems. It could also be a blocked orifice, dirty vent, or thermocouple issue.
10. No Hot Water in the Tub
If the lack of hot water is confined to the bathtub and not the dishwasher, washing machine, or shower, the root problem is perhaps due to the type of water heater you have. High chances are that you are using a tankless water heater.
A tankless water heater heats water as it flows out, providing you with a constant supply of hot water on demand. Unfortunately, if the water is flowing rather too fast, it doesn’t get time to heat correctly. This is the common reason you are not getting enough hot water when running water in the bathtub.
Identify the Problem Early
The earlier you fix a water heater damage, the better. Early repairs help to avoid the problem escalating to costly repairs. At first sight of malfunctioning, contact a professional water heater repair expert in San Antonio, TX, for immediate action.
Water Heater Repair vs Replacement
When should you repair or replace your water heaters? Besides the above apparent signs that you need a water heater expert, below are a few motivating factors to choose repair over replacement:
- The issue at hand. Fortunately, not all water heater problems are expensive to fix. Some issues are relatively inexpensive to fix, for example, malfunctioning pressure relief valve. As such, it doesn’t make sense to throw away the entire unit if the issue is relatively affordable to fix
- The unit’s age. Typical electric and gas-powered water heaters last roughly 10-12 years before needing replacement. If properly maintained, solar and tankless water heaters can last up to 20years. If your water heater is on the upper end of its expected lifespan, it may not be worth repairing since the problems may keep resurfacing the more you use it
- How long do you intend to live in the house? If a water heater repair can help the heater work for a few more years and you plan on moving out anytime sooner, then repair makes more sense than replacement. However, if you plan on living in the home for the long term, replacement makes more sense than water heater repair.
Water heater replacement makes more sense than water heater repair in such scenarios:
- If the water heater is dangerously nearing or has passed its lifespan and is malfunctioning regularly
- If the costs of repairs are high and may recur in future
- The water heater ceases to function completely.
Regardless, consult an expert to advise you on the appropriate course of action subject to a thorough water heater system inspection and diagnosis.
Water Heater Repair Near Me
Are you looking for a professional water heater repair expert in San Antonio, TX? Owning a home requires you to be prepared for anything. This includes unexpected breakdowns. It is worth having a trusted water heater repair tech on speed dial when it comes to a water heater.
Finding the best repair contractor is not an easy task. Here are a few things to consider when looking for the best water heater repair contractor in San Antonio:
1. Experience
There is little to no substitute to experience when looking for a service provider. A tech with ample experience repairing water heaters is fundamental for a well-executed job. Working with a local water heater repair company with a long-standing presence is a sure bet when looking for experience. However, when looking for experience, consider the individual contractors’ experience and not solely the active number of service years for the contracting company.
2. Licensing and Insurance
A water heater is much like any significant investment you make in your house. As such, you want to ensure it stays protected, even when you contract a technician to repair or service it. Ensure you hire a repair tech who is well trained and licensed to repair water heaters.
Additionally, ensure the party has proof of insurance before starting any repair work. Doing so helps you avoid liability in case of further system damage or resulting injuries.
3. Reviews and Referrals
What are other people saying about the water heater repair guy you consider hiring? Before hiring a repair, ask the company for a list of references. Reluctancy in providing one is clear that you need to look for another repair company.
In addition, you can check online reviews on Google, the service provider’s website, or social media pages. You are likely to find positive and negative honest reviews, depending on the service providers in question and their service delivery module.
4. Knowledge and Expertise
While you can determine this by checking their certification and awards, you can also conduct a short interview to determine if your candidate generally has a significant knowledge base of water heaters and plumbing systems. A potential candidate should diagnose all possible common and less-common water heater problems. Consequently, the potential service provider should provide highly effective long-term solutions.
Water Heater Repair, San Antonio, TX
Do you have any water heater damages or malfunctions? Water heater malfunctions are inconvenient and require urgent attention to resume normal working conditions. It is easy to fancy the idea of replacing your water heater at the slightest sign of water heater problems.
However, at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio, we recommend taking a step-by-step approach to fix your water heater failures without wasting resources. A water heater repair technician at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio can help you discover the exact water heater problem. Rest assured, we recommend the most appropriate solutions to a wide array of water heater problems.
If you have frequent or sudden water heater failure, we are here for you. We serve residents 24/7 in San Antonio, TX and the surrounding neighborhoods. Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio today to get immediate expert
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