Understanding Water Heater Issues
If you often have to deal with cold water showers, your water heater may be faulty. Besides issues with water temperature, a defective water heater can cause several problems such as leaks, strange noises, and smelly or discolored water.
ISSUES WITH WATER TEMPERATURE
Water temperature problems include lack of hot water, no hot water, or extremely hot water.
The lack of hot water can be due to a malfunctioning thermostat. If you're handy, try adjusting the upper and lower thermostats separately and see if one of them is not working. If so, the defective one will need to be replaced.
When the water heater is too small for your needs, it can also result in inadequate hot water.
Lastly, look for hot-cold water crossover by shutting off the water supply to see if the water is still flowing from the hot water faucet. If so, find the crossed connection.
If there is no hot water at all, it could be due to a tripped circuit breaker or defective thermostat. Start with resetting the circuit breaker. If the issue persists, the problem might be with the thermostat or the heating element, which may be faulty and need replacement.
When the water is extremely hot, it is usually because the thermostat is set too high. Adjust both the upper and lower thermostat to resolve the issue.
UNUSUAL NOISE FROM WATER HEATER
Water heaters usually make noise due to the accumulation of sediment at the bottom of the heater tank. Try draining the heater tank to fix this problem. When the water heater makes high crackling noises, it can be because of mineral deposits on the heating element. To resolve this issue, start with flushing the water heater. Installing a water-softening system can also help in preventing scale buildup. Tip: some plumbers recommend cleaning a water heater with vinegar. We don't recommend this as it can be messy and requires introducing vinegar into the water heater.
SMELLY OR RUST-COLORED WATER
Foul odor in hot water is usually caused by hydrogen released due to the decaying of the sacrificial anode rod. Corrosion in the tank or faulty sacrificial anode rod can also result in rust-colored water. Having the anode rod replaced with a magnesium anode rod can help solve this issue.
LEAKING WATER HEATER
A water heater can leak from top or bottom for several reasons, including defective temperature and pressure relief valve, too much pressure or heat, loose pipes and bolts, and water tank leakage. If you're handy, check the T&P relief valve by flushing it and see if it continues to leak.
If you need services of a professional plumber to diagnose and fix the issues with your water heater or if you want to replace the water heater, we're here to help!
Evenflow Home and Commercial Services offer residential and commercial electrical, plumbing, and HVAC services in San Antonio, Schertz, Converse, Floresville, Elmendorf, and surrounding cities. Call us at 210-941-3503 today!
