Your Guide to Water Heater Repair in League City
Water heaters are another building system that gets little attention in comparison to their importance: that is, they are ignored until something goes wrong. Then we remember how important hot water is to our way of life. The chief use of hot water in a home is cleaning, but with hot water, we clean:
- Food, in meal preparation
- Dishes and sometimes clothes, but most importantly, we clean
- People
Life would go on without hot water, but bathing would suddenly become very uncomfortable, especially during cold seasons.
If something goes wrong with the water heater, replacement or water heater repair becomes very urgent. Not only is hot water important to our normal living standards, but losing hot water is often quite messy. A failing water heater often leaks, creating a mess, at best, or a tremendous amount of water damage. For these reasons, any problem with the water heater should be addressed quickly to prevent or limit damage.
Response to the Lack of Hot Water
If you suddenly find that opening the hot water faucet does not result in a stream of adequately heated water, there are several helpful steps to follow. We are sorry this is happening; hopefully, you discover the problem before stepping into a cold shower.
- Check the power supply. If your water heater is electric, check the electrical service panel for a tripped circuit breaker. Check the tank, as it might also have a circuit breaker placed by the manufacturer. If a breaker is tripped, wait about 30 minutes or so, since it will take time for the water to heat.
If the water heater is gas-powered, check the main gas valve and the gas valve to the water heater. In the ON position, the valve should be in line with the supply line. Check the pilot light or the electronic ignition system—pushing the ignition button should result in a series of clicks, and you might see a spark.
- Touch the water lines attached to the water heater. One should be cold, coming from the municipal water supply or a well. The other should be warmer if the heater is functioning. Remember, you open the hot water faucet prior to coming to the tank. If neither pipe is warm or hot, you know the tank is not producing hot water.
- Observe the immediate space surrounding the water heater, looking for signs of a leak.
These simple observations tell you whether the water heater is or is not receiving power, is or is not producing hot water, and is or is not leaking. Now, let’s look at the most common water heater repair problems.
The Three Most Common Water Heater Repair League City Issues
- The range of useful years for residential water heaters is between 10 and 15 years. If you did not install your current water heater, use the brand/model/serial number of your tank to determine the age. Electric-powered and gas-powered tanks age differently. The more you know about your water heater, the better prepared you will be.
- Municipal water suppliers treat the water supply and remove as many foreign particles as economically possible. The standard for mineral salts, dissolved calcium, magnesium, etc., is lower than 500 mg/L, or about .0005% of the water quantity. That is not much mineral content, but considering the amount of water that enters the tank over 10 to 15 years, and the fact that the water is stored long enough for sediment to drop out of the supply, the amount of sediment can be substantial. Eventually, sediment can coat or cover the heating element or heat exchanger and act as an insulator between the heat source and the water.
- Mineral salts usually make the water slightly alkaline, and the water is looking to pull electrons from metals that it encounters. Most water heaters have an anode rod, made of aluminum or magnesium, which readily donates electrons to the water. When the anode rod is used up, the water will pull electrons from other metals, usually the iron tank. We call this corrosion rust. When rust weakens the tank sufficiently, the tank will begin to leak.
Trusted Water Heater Repair League City
Don’t let a failing tank turn into a cold shower or a costly indoor flood. Our water heater repair experts are standing by to diagnose your sediment buildup or corrosion issues and get your hot water flowing again immediately. Call Doctor Cool today to schedule your Water Heater Repair League City appointment and restore comfort to your home!