Exactly how to Troubleshoot and Fix an Electric Water Heater
Exactly how to Troubleshoot and Fix an Electric Water Heater
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Several modern residences use an electric hot water heater for their heater, due to its ease and also simplicity of use. However, similar to any other electric appliances, troubles might develop with its usage, all of a sudden. It can be really irritating to get up to a cold shower as opposed to a hot one or having your bath with water that isn't warm enough or perhaps as well warm. Whatever the situation may be, hot water heater issues can be fairly stressful. Thankfully, we have actually made a listing of possible options to your water heater concerns. There are a number of aspects that might create much of these problems, maybe an issue with the power supply, the electric heating element, or the thermostat. Prior to doing anything, ensure you switch off the primary power supply for safety. Whatever the issue is, getting it dealt with ought to not posture excessive of a concern if you comply with these actions:
Inspect Your Power Supply:
As fundamental as this may appear, it is really required. Without adequate power, your water heater will not function. So the first thing to do when your water unexpectedly stops working is to verify that it isn't a power trouble. Check if the fuse is burnt out or the circuit breaker stumbled. If the breaker is the issue, merely turn it off and on once more. Change any damaged or damaged fuse. Evaluate the device with power after these changes to see if it's now functioning.
Check the Heating Element in the Hot Water Heater:
If it's not a power problem, after that attempt looking into your heating element if it is still working. Examine each of your heating elements to make sure the trouble isn't with any of them. If any of them is malfunctioning, change that component and then inspect whether the warm water is back on.
Check Your Thermostat:
If your hot water heater still isn't working or the water coming out isn't warm sufficient, you may need to inspect the temperature level setups on your upper thermostat. Guarantee the circuit breaker is switched off prior to doing anything. Open the accessibility panel and press the red button for temperature level reset above the thermostat. This ought to aid heat the water. Turn the breaker back on and also check if the problem has been dealt with.
Call An Expert:
If after changing all faulty parts as well as resetting your temperature level, the water heater still isn't working, you might require to contact a professional plumber for an expert opinion. The trouble with your heater could be that the hot and cold faucets have actually been switched over or it may be undersized for the amount of hot water required in your house. Whatever the instance may be, a professional plumber would help address the problem.
Conclusion
Water heater issues are not constantly significant. Many of them are due to minor problems like a blown fuse or damaged burner. Replacing the defective parts must suffice. However, if you are still not able to fix the trouble, give a call to your nearest plumber to come to get it repaired.
Common Water Heater Issues and What You Should Do
What Type of Water Heater Do You Have?
Before we begin it’s first important that you identify the type of water heater you have on your property. There are two main types of water heaters out there: conventional and high efficiency.
Both of these types of products typically use either gas or electricity to heat power. There are also solar water heaters that use a thermal collector on the roof or yard to heat the water.
While these models are not as common, they can cut heating costs in half. In this article, we will focus on conventional and high efficiency.
How Do My Electric and Gas Water Heater Work?
Though they look similar, electric and gas water heaters work very differently. It’s important to know their basic function because often problems can be specific to the heating source.
In the electric model, a thermostat on the side of the machine detects the temperature of the water in the tank. When the temperature needs to rise electricity flows to a heating element suspended in the water.
Gas models also use a thermostat device — typically with a mercury sensor at the tip and an additional sensor called a thermocouple. The thermocouple detects whether the pilot light is on and controls the flow of gas.
When the thermostat drops below the appropriate level gas is released which becomes ignited by the pilot light. The flame heats the bottom of the water tank which causes hot water to rise and cold water to drop.
This natural circulation continues until the water reaches the desired temperature. Then, the thermostat triggers the gas control valve to shut off the flow of gas.
What Are the Most Common Issues and How Do You Fix Them?
n this section, we’ll go over some of the more common problems that people deal with when their water heater starts acting up. Keep in mind that some problems, like a broken pilot light, are specific to gas water heaters.
Also, remember that the best defense against water heater issues is regular maintenance. Check out some of these great tips for improving the lifespan of your water heater.
Not Enough Hot Water
This problem is common if you live in an apartment or a house with a lot of people. Too many people use the hot water supply in the tank and the machine struggles to produce more in a timely fashion.
There’s a variety of solutions to this problem, but an easy method is simply to adjust the temperature dial on your heater and wait thirty minutes.
If you have an electrical water heater, then a power surge caused by the device may cause the circuits to trip.
You should contact an electrician quickly if this issue keeps happening — it means wiring issues are causing the machine to draw more power than it needs. You may also want to try draining your water heater.
The process of draining removes the hard water sediments that cause your machine to run less efficiently. If you want a full walk-through of how to drain water your water heater tank, then make sure to read our article before you begin.
If none of these solutions fix the problem, then the issue likely lies in a malfunction component — likely a pressure relief valve or heating element.
Changing Water Temperatures
Often it’s a joke that some showers have two temperatures: scolding hot and ice cold. Unfortunately, this common feature can be a symptom of a bigger problem.
If you notice this temperature change when you shower or do the dishes, then you should check the thermostat on the side of your water heater. First, make sure it’s set to your desired temperature.
If it still exhibits drastic temperature changes, then you may need to replace the thermostat or the heating unit inside the product. The problem may also lie in the size of the product. Remember that tanks should hold roughly 20 gallons of water per person living in the house.
A Leak in the Water Heater
A water heater leak can cause serious water damage to the floor and electrical components near the device. Remember that you should always turn off the gas or electricity and let the device cool down before inspecting for a problem.
You may be able to fix the leak by tightening screw and pipe connections as these are common causes of minor leaks. However, if you notice a substantial leak at the base of the water heater, then you should contact a technician to inspect and replace it.
Rumbling Sounds
Rumbling sounds are a sign of a serious water heater issue. Unusual sounds may come from burning sediments or malfunction heating components. If you think you hear your heater boiling, then you should turn it off immediately.
This symptom is a sign of building pressure in your tank which could cause it to explode. You can likely solve this problem by draining your tank and clearing out any sediments. However, if the problem persists you may want to call a professional.
Rusty or Smelly Water
If your water smells then there is likely rust or bacteria in your water tank. These problems can cause orange discoloration and a smell like rotten eggs. However, you should first make sure that your tank is the issue and not the water source itself.
Run cold water and see if the smell persists. If the smell only comes from hot water, then the problem is the water heater. If not, then it’s the water source. If the problem comes from your tank, then it’s likely a malfunctioning anode rod.
An anode rod is responsible for cleaning any bacteria from the tank, so this is the most likely symptom. Unfortunately, changing an anode rod requires extensive knowledge of the system. As such, you will likely need the help of a professional.
Poor Water Flow
Changes in the water pressure that comes out of your shower or sink is likely a sign of sediment buildup at the bottom. Follow our previous advice — drain the tank and flush out any of the sediments.
If the problem persists, then you’ll need to check the pipes around your device. Hire a professional plumber to clean or replace the pipes around the water heater.
No Pilot Light
Gas water heaters require a pilot light to ignite the gas that warms the water. If your pilot light is out, then try reigniting it by repeatedly switching the ignitor switch. If your pilot light continues to go out, then it’s a symptom of a larger problem.
You can first try cleaning it — sometimes dirt or grime can buildup and snuff out the spark.
However, the problem can also cause things like malfunctioning thermostats, broken gas valves, or air in the gas line. First, try cleaning it and if it still goes out, then troubleshoot the various parts and replace whichever one malfunction.
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