Hiring Contractors For Home Improvements

Hiring Contractors For Home Improvements

5 Very Common Water Heater Problems

Tim Graham

Hot water is an essential part of your home's comfort. Without hot water, basic actions in your home including showering and cleaning may stall or not work at an efficient level. When your electric water heater fails, you experience many problems that necessitate a qualified and licensed electrician to inspect the system and provide servicing or repair if needed.

Here are 5 of the most common problems with your electric water heater.    

1. No Hot Water

Turning on the shower to find no hot water can be extremely inconveniencing. If you encounter this, first confirm the temperature adjustments of the system and ensure they are at the recommended optimum level. Do not turn it on too high to avoid scalding yourself or your family. 

Also, have an electrician check whether the circuit breaker is intact or has tripped. If it is still intact, the electrician should confirm whether the element is burned out and should be replaced. 

2. Not Enough Hot Water

The issue here is most likely related to the thermostat. The solution could be as easy as adjusting the water temperature on the thermostat. However, for most electric heaters, the thermostat is not easily accessible and is usually set at a recommended factory setting. During the cold winters, it might be advisable to have an electrician adjust the temperature, as the water will cool faster in the cold pipes than it would during summer. 

The problem could also be related to loose wiring, faulty elements, a failing thermostat or an inadequate tank that doesn't meet your needs.

3. Coloured or Rusty Water

If the running water has a rusty or brownish colour, then this could be a problem. It can indicate that the water heater is rusted and is slowly corroding away. If this is the case, you should replace the anode rod, whose job is to ensure rust does not collect in the tank. Have an electrician inspect the hot water system and, if necessary, replace the entire water heater. 

4. Strange Noises

If you hear your tank making awkward sounds like loud banks, hisses or any other strange noise, this could also be an issue. The most common cause is a build-up of sediment at the bottom of the tank or on the element. It could also be as a result of a leak in the tank or pipes. Either way, have an electrician inspect the entire system and confirm that the tank is working efficiently and it is safe. 

5. Low Hot Water Pressure

If you move into a home that has low hot water pressure, it is likely a smaller pipe was installed during the installation of the system. The only solution here is to have an electrician and plumber work together to install a wider pipe that allows more water to flow.

This valued appliance in your home could be extremely dangerous if ill handled. Therefore, if you notice any of these problems, the solution is not to DIY. Ensure you call a technician and have them perform an inspection and any necessary hot water repairs.


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About Me
Hiring Contractors For Home Improvements

Hello! My name is Richard and this is my new blog. On this blog, I hope to pass on some useful information about how to work with contractors. I recently decided that I wanted to give my property a complete overhaul. I wanted to have a new roof installed, the interior remodelled and the driveway repaired. I asked around and I put together a great team of contractors who could all work together to get the job done. However, that isn't to say there wasn't the occasion challenge during such a big project. I learnt a lot from the experience and I am really pleased with the work that the contractors carried out.

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