Water Heater Problems | Henry's Service All

Water heaters provide hot water for appliances and taps in your home. But the heater can experience problems from time to time. Discover some common heater issues to look out for.

Cold Water

If you turn on the hot water and the water stays cold, the problem might be a lack of power connection to the electric water heater. Install new fuses and reset any tripped circuit breaker. Also, see if the power switches are on and if the power indicator is lit. Since a faulty heating element or thermostat can cause the heater to produce cold water, check whether the thermostat is receiving power.

Burner and Pilot Light Issues

Gas tank heaters may experience burner or pilot light issues. The pilot light may not produce any light due to several factors. In other cases, the pilot light might turn on but then go out. The cause might be dysfunctional gas valves or a clogged vent.

The burner might also go out while the heater is in use. A damaged vent, burner orifice, or thermocouple may be because of burner issues.

Flame or Ignition Failure

If you have a tankless gas heater, ignition problems can activate error messages on the heater. Check whether any of the heater valves are open and if fuel is in the gas tank. Flame failures may happen due to a blocked or clogged vent.

Leaking Water

The following factors can cause water to leak from the heater:

• Problems with the plumbing pipes that connect to the water heater
• Problems with the tightening of the heating element gasket
• Rupture, failure, or excessive corrosion of the water heater storage tank
• Excessive pressure within the tank that leads to a faulty or stuck open T&P valve

Once you notice a leak, turn off the power supplies and water immediately and call a plumber.

Lukewarm or Insufficient Water

The hot water line should connect to the hot water outlet, while the cold water line should connect to the old tank inlet. Poor installation can lead to crossed plumbing lines where the hot water line carries water from the cold tank inlet and vice versa.

The water heater might also be undersized, the heating element might be faulty, or the dip tube might be dysfunctional. All these problems cause lukewarm or insufficient water in the heater tank.

Dirty or Smelly Water

Contaminants might enter the water tank and cause the water to become dirty or smelly. Bad smells typically occur due to bacteria contaminants. If the smells are in both the cold and hot water, the cause of the problem might not be in the water heater.

Cloudy or dirty water is usually the result of the accumulation of sediments and mineralization within the tank. Sediment buildup can interfere with the effectiveness of the water heater. And if the water has a rusty color, the problem might be an anode rod that requires replacement. The anode helps reduce the number of sediments in the water tank.

It is very important to flush your water heater annually, especially a tankless water heater. This will prevent sediment, discoloration and bad water. It will also prolong the life of the water heater. Tankless water heaters must be done annually, but both should be done as a routine annual maintenance.

Long Time Waiting for Heated Water

Once the water tank becomes empty, the heater should take a few minutes to warm the cold water. But sometimes you have to wait for an hour or more to get warm water from the heater. Simply increasing gas pressure can increase water flow into the water heater.

Cracks in the dip tube can also affect the supply of hot water. The tube pushes cold water into the water tank for heating. But if the tube has cracks, the heater will release cold water in the middle or top of the tank.

If your water heater has any problems, you need the help of professional plumbers to fix any issues. Henry's Service All can help with all your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical service needs. Contact us today for quality services.