Common Hot Water Heater Issues and Solutions

Oh no… your water heater is not working. What do you do?  Today on the blog, our Sacramento Plumbing Contractors discuss common water heater problems and solutions. 

When Your Water Heater Stops Working

First and foremost, do not panic. Although it is not a pleasant way to begin the day, it is very normal for a water heater to fail. The best thing to do is to contact a Sacramento Plumbing Company so you can get on with your day.

When contacting a plumber about hot water tank problems, it is best to know the age of your tank, the height of the tank, and the type of vent.

Typical Hot Water Heater Issues

A broken hot water heater may be caused by a variety of factors.  As follows, it is important to understand how to solve the problem, or at the very least how to explain the problem to a professional plumber.

In the best-case situation, a water heater that isn’t working is actually due to the pilot light going out. If this is the case, simply relighting it can resolve the problem.

If that doesn’t solve your water heater problem, we’ll have to dig a little deeper.

1. Problems with Water Temperature

We have water temperature problems, which is one of the most common concerns about water heaters not working. As follows, this can be caused by either insufficient heating of the water or by the water being much too hot. In most situations, simply go to the water tank and change the tank’s thermostat. It may have been accidentally bumped, causing the temperature to change. Turning down the temperature of the water tank is another popular practice for saving energy during the summer months. Increasing the temperature of your thermostat during the winter months can solve your temperature problem.

If the water does not heat up when the temperature is raised, you might have a defective thermostat. The thermostat must be replaced as a solution.

2. Water that is discolored or smells bad

Another common issue with water heaters is odorous or discolored water.

If the problem is water discoloration, it is most likely caused by high mineral levels such as iron and copper, which cause the pipes to rust.

Our Plumbing Contractors Folsom recommend installing a water softener device in your home is a popular solution to this issue.

While this is not harmful to your overall health, it can cause plumbing issues that affect the performance of appliances.

3. Water Heater is Making Noises

A noisy water heater does not normally cause alarm in most people, but it can be distracting. A noisy water heater may be caused by a number of factors, such as excessive mineral and sediment buildup. 

To prevent this from happening in the first place, flush your water heater on a regular basis, usually once a year. However, if you hear a boiling tone, this is the sound of the device overheating, causing dangerous pressure buildup.

4. Water Heater Leak

If you’ve noticed a drop in water temperature, your water heater could be leaking. Thus, it is important to identify the source and cause of the leak before attempting to fix it.  Unfortunately, If it’s a corroded water tank, you’ll need to repair it.