Basic Water Heaters Troubleshooting
You probably don’t think about your water heater until a cold shower or a telltale puddle suggests you need a new one. Before you shell out 0 or 0 for a storage-tank heater or up to ,200 for a more-efficient tankless model, see whether the old water heater can be fixed.
Common water heaters repair:
Water Leaks from the Base of the Tank
If water is leaking from the base of your water heater, it could be coming from the drain valve. You can try to tighten the valve located at the base of the tank. If it is defective, replace it. For gas water heater, check if the vent is obstructed. If you find an obstruction, turn off the water heater and clean the flue. For electric hot water heaters, leak sometimes come from the heating element gaskets. Before you drain the water from the heater to replace the gasket, turn off the power and close the water supply.
Water is Not Hot
Improper heating is another common issue for water heaters. If you are using Gas hot water heaters, any repair that involves gas connections please get a qualified and licensed plumber.
Work done on natural gas connections by an untrained and unlicensed person is dangerous and most likely in violation of local regulations and building codes.
First thing to check is the circuit breaker if you are using an electric model. No power will reach the heater if the unit is tripped. Just reset the breaker.
Electric units have 2 thermostat (upper and lower) and heating element. Try to reset the upper thermostat. If the problem is still not solved, check if the power is getting to the upper heating element using an analog or a digital multimeter. If not, shut off the water supply and drain the tank, turn off all power to the appliance and replace the thermostat.
The element itself being defective is very possible. It is very easy to replace it. If the problem is still present, repeat the above steps with the lower thermostat and heating element.
Supply of Hot Water is Reduced
If your heater is not putting out enough hot water and there are no leaks, drain the tank to make sure mineral deposits are not the cause. Before you do this, please turn off the electricity or gas. Attach a hose to the drain valve to drain the water outside after you have turned off the inlet valve. Allow air in by opening the drain valve and a hot water faucet anywhere in your house. When all of the water has drained, turn the valve to the cold water off and on continuously at the water tank until the drain water is clear. Close the drain valve, refill the tank and turn the electricity or gas back on.
Not Enough Water
Make sure the pilot light is lit when the water is not hot enough on your gas water heater. If not, follow the manufacturer’s directions to relight it. Also try turning up the thermostat. If you have an electric water heater, just turn the thermostat to a higher temperature