Understanding How Hot Water Heaters Work And Make Repairing It Easier…
Your gas or electric hot water heater may look complicated but it really isn’t. The main purpose of a hot water heater is to hold and heat your water and there are very few parts that can go bad. Knowing how these parts operate and what needs to be done when there is a problem can save you lots of money in costly repairs by water heater repair companies.
Symptoms That Your Hot Water Heater Needs To Be Repaired
You know that your hot water heater has a problem that needs attention when it has one of the following symptoms: no hot water, inadequate hot water, water that is leaking around the base of the unit, there is a rotten egg odor coming from your heater, a high pitched whining sound, a popping noise or rust colored water when you turn on the bottom water release valve.
Repairing The Heat Source of Your Water Heater
The heat source is the number one cause of most hot water heaters to stop producing hot water. In a gas hot water heater, you have a pilot light that is very sensitive to oncoming air. It is located at the base of the unit and a small blue fire can be seen burning when it is on. Sometimes the pilot light will go out and simply needs to be relit, like the burner on a gas stove. If you are unsure about placing a fire close to the unit, call your gas company and they will come out and light it for you.
In an electric hot water heater, the top and bottom element provides the heat source and one or both of these may go bad and need replaced. This repair is not as simple as lighting a pilot light. If your tank is cold to the touch toward the top or toward the bottom, you may have a bad element. First shut off the breaker that provides electricity to the water heater. Next, remove the cover provided on the side of the tank and find the top and bottom elements that are behind the layer of insulation. Either remove and replace or call someone that is trained in electrical devices for aid.
Other Hot Water Heater Safeguards To Check for Repair
Your gas or electric hot water heater also has other components that act as safeguards. The thermostat regulates the temperature of the water, the vent for combustion gases, and a pressure relief valve (TPR valve) that releases pressure from the tank to keep from getting too hot or building up too much pressure. The anode is a metal rod that helps eliminate smells from the contained water and prevents corrosion. You know when the anode is bad when you have the rotten egg smell.
Maintaining Your Hot Water Heater
It is also a good idea to keep your gas or electric hot water heater maintained by simply draining your tank from time to time. Turn off the heat and let your unit cool for a couple hours then run a hose from the bottom valve to a drain. Turn on any hot water faucet to keep air flowing then release the water from your tank. Lastly, turn the cold water valve on top of your water supply on and off a few times to release any sediment and refill the tank.
Your gas or electric hot water heater will give you many years of comfort if you just look for signs of repair and keep them maintained.
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