Is It Time To Call A Water Heater Repair Professional? | San Antonio, TX
You rely on every appliance in your house to make your life easier. Although you rely on every appliance daily, some are more essential than others. For example, if your washing machine or dryer breaks down, you can wash your clothes at a laundromat or a friend’s or family’s home until the appliance is repaired. If your dishwasher breaks down, you can clean the dishes by hand until the problem is resolved. While there are some appliances you can live without for a few days, there are some that you can’t. If your refrigerator is broken, the food will spoil; if your oven is broken, you can’t prepare meals for your family. Another appliance you can’t live with is your water heater.
The cold water entering your house fills the water heater, where it’s heated and stored, so you always have hot water when needed. If the unit isn’t working correctly, you won’t have hot water, essential for many household activities, such as showering, cooking, and cleaning.
If your unit experiences any of the following problems, hiring a plumber specializing in water heater repair immediately is best.
#1 Cold Water Coming from the Hot Water Taps
If you turn on the hot water and it comes out cold after letting it run for a while, you may need to call a professional in water heater repair. You should check a few things first to avoid an unnecessary service call, including:
- If you have an electric water heater, ensure a circuit hasn’t tripped, and the power goes to the unit.
- If your unit runs on natural gas, check the pilot to ensure it’s lit. Next, check your records to ensure your gas bill has been paid and your service hasn’t been terminated. Finally, you should rule out an outage by turning on another gas-fueled appliance, checking with a neighbor, or contacting the gas company.
- If your unit runs on oil or propane, ensure the pilot is lit and there’s fuel in the tank.
- The hot water supply may have depleted if you’ve used too much water quickly. It’s best to wait an hour for the unit to refill and heat the water.
After checking things on your end and everything checks out, it’s time to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair in San Antonio, TX.
One possible reason you don’t have hot water is a faulty heating element. If it isn’t working, the water in the tank won’t heat up and will be cold. A professional in water heater repair will inspect the heating element to find the problem and make the necessary repair.
Another possible issue is the unit’s age. With regular maintenance, draining, and flushing, a gas, oil, and propane water heater should last eight to 12 years, while an electric water heater should last ten to 15 years. If your unit has reached the end of its lifespan, it won’t have the power to heat the water. In this case, the only option is to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair and installation to install a new unit.
#2 The Water Isn’t Getting Hot Enough
If you turn on the hot water and it doesn’t get hotter than lukewarm, it may be time to call a professional in water heater repair. You should check the unit’s thermostat first to avoid an unnecessary service call. The EPA recommends setting water heater thermostats to 120 to 140 degrees. This is hot enough to perform daily tasks and allows the hot water-based appliances to function correctly, and it isn’t so hot that you’ll be scalded. If the thermostat is set below 120 degrees, adjusting it will solve the problem. If the thermostat is set correctly, it’s time to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair in San Antonio, TX. A few issues can prevent the water from getting hot enough, and you’ll need a professional to diagnose the problem correctly.
- Faulty thermostat: One possible cause is a defective thermostat. If the thermostat isn’t working correctly, the unit won’t get the correct signal and won’t heat the water enough. A plumber can fix the thermostat, allowing the water in the tank to heat to the desired temperature.
- One of the heating elements has failed; If you have a dual-element water heater, one of the heating elements may have failed. When this happens, the element still working won’t have enough power to heat the water supply, resulting in lukewarm water coming from the hot water tap.
A plumber specializing in water heater repair can fix the faulty element, allowing both parts to work together to heat the water supply above lukewarm. - The unit’s age: If your water is nearing the end of its lifespan, it may not have enough power to heat the water supply beyond lukewarm, and replacing the unit is the only option to restore the hot water.
Nobody wants to shower in lukewarm water, and your hot water-based appliances won’t function correctly, so it’s best to hire a plumber in San Antonio, TX as soon as you detect the problem.
#3 Poor Hot Water Pressure
Adequate water pressure is essential for daily tasks, such as washing your hair and dishes. In addition, your hot water-based appliances rely on sufficient water pressure to function correctly.
If the hot and cold water pressure is poor, there’s an issue with the plumbing system, such as a clog or leak. If just the hot water pressure is insufficient, the problem is due to the water heater, and you’ll need to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair in San Antonio, TX.
Sediment forms in the tank over time, and if the unit isn’t flushed and maintained regularly, the sediment will continue building up. A significant amount of buildup can clog the waterline, resulting in poor hot water pressure.
A plumber in San Antonio, TX can unclog the waterline and try to flush the sediment to resolve the problem. However, if there’s too much sediment and it can’t be flushed, you’ll need to replace the water heater. If you don’t, the waterline will continue to clog, and you’ll spend a fortune hiring a plumber repeatedly to unclog the waterline.
#4 Brown or Rust-Colored Hot Water
The water coming from taps in your home should be clean and clear. If the water is brown or rust-colored, it indicates contamination, and it isn’t safe to use the water. If the hot and cold water is discolored, the issue is with the plumbing system due to rusted or corroded pipes or a broken pipe underground. If just the hot water is discolored, the problem is with the water heater, and you’ll need to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair.
A couple of issues can contaminate the water, and the first is sediment buildup. Large amounts of sediment will accumulate in the water tank if the unit isn’t flushed and maintained regularly. When this happens, the deposit will break down in hot water, causing contamination. The plumber can try to flush the sediment from the tank, but this can be impossible if the problem is too severe. If the sediment cannot be flushed, the only option is to replace the water heater.
Another potential cause is the age of your water heater. When the unit nears the end of its lifespan, the tank’s interior can begin to break down, causing minerals, sediment, and tiny shards of metal to contaminate the water. The inside of the tank cannot be repaired, and the only way to ensure the water is safe for use is to replace the water heater.
Using contaminated water is dangerous, so it’s best to avoid using hot water until the problem is resolved. If you must use the water, it’s best to heat cold water to the desired temperature until a professional in water heater repair can get to your home.
#5 You Frequently Run Out of Hot Water
If your family uses too much hot water in a short period, you’ll deplete the water supply quickly and run out of hot water. If you frequently run out of hot water and can’t figure out why, your water heater is to blame, and you should hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair in San Antonio, TX. Nobody wants to start their day with a cold shower, so it’s best to make the call immediately.
One possible problem is the size of the water tank. If your household size has recently increased, your existing water heater may not be large enough to meet your family’s hot water demand, causing you to run out of hot water frequently. If this is the case, your only option is to install a new water heater with a larger tank or a tankless model that doesn’t store water and provides hot water on demand, so you don’t run out.
Sediment buildup can also be a problem. When large amounts of sediment build up in the tank, there won’t be as much space for hot water storage, causing you to run out of hot water. A plumber specializing in water heater repair can try to flush the sediment from the tank, but if they can’t, the only way to resolve the problem is to replace the unit.
#6 The Unit Sounds Like It’s Possessed
Some water heater issues can only be detected by looking at the unit, so it’s best to check it a few times a month. Your water heater should be whisper quiet when it runs, and if it makes noise, you’ll need to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair.
A banging sound indicates large pieces of sediment banging against the inside of the tank, and if the problem isn’t resolved quickly, the sediment can crack the tank, causing a flood. A popping sound indicates sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank. When water gets trapped beneath the deposit, it will boil, causing the popping sound.
A professional in water heater repair can try to flush the sediment, but if they can’t, the unit must be replaced.
#7 Moisture or Water Pooling Around the Unit
The area around your water heater should be dry, and if moisture or water is pooling around the unit, it’s time to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair in San Antonio, TX.
Moisture indicates a loose or disconnected hose, which is a simple fix. However, if the problem isn’t addressed immediately, water damage and mold growth will occur.
Water pooling around the unit indicates a leak in the tank, which is a severe issue. If the problem isn’t detected and addressed quickly, the entire tank’s contents can flood your home, causing significant damage. A crack in the tank cannot be fixed, and you’ll need to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair and installation to replace the unit to prevent a flood.
Call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio Today
If your water heater is acting up and you need to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair, look no further than bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio. We’re a full-service plumbing company and are members of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association.
Our plumbers are professionally trained, highly skilled, and can handle the most challenging plumbing jobs in the industry. When you call for plumbing service, one of our plumbers will arrive in a fully-stocked truck at your house on time, allowing them to make most repairs the same day. This ensures the problem is resolved quickly and is more convenient for you.
If you have a plumbing issue that must be addressed immediately, don’t panic. We provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we’ll get a plumber to your house as quickly as possible to resolve the problem.
To schedule an appointment for water heater repair or any other plumbing service, give us a call at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio or book online.
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