A cold shower can be a wake-up call when you need one, but nothing is worse than getting into the shower only to find that there’s no hot water available when you’re expecting it. If your water heater has any problems, it is essential to identify them quickly, and hire an expert who can either repair or replace as necessary. Today, we’ll discuss what our water heater repair services can do for you.

Resolve Common Water Heater Issues

Your water heater’s type (electric or gas) will determine how you handle repairs for it. Common problems associated with water heaters include bad odors, temperature fluctuations, and strange noises; here are some tips to help solve each one.

Your water may smell like rotting eggs if bacteria is present. This problem can be remedied by flushing the tank. To prevent the risk of further water heater repair, turn off any gas or electric supplies to your heater before beginning this procedure, and flush the heater accordingly. A reliable water heater technician can perform this task for you, if you’re uncomfortable with the process or simply don’t know how.

A simple fix for a non-heating water heater can be as easy as setting the thermostat to the correct temperature. However, your heating element could be damaged if the temperature doesn’t reach the required level and you have two options: try to replace it yourself or hire an expert to do it for you and arrange for a water heater repair service.

Sometimes, heating issues can be down to an unlit or faulty pilot light. Make sure your gas water heater is on and the pilot light is lit. Refer to your owner’s manual or on the tank for instructions on relighting it if it’s off. The problem could be due to a defective thermocouple; if the pilot light continues to go off unexpectedly, contact a plumber who can diagnose and repair this issue for you.

If you have an electric water heater, you’ll need to make sure your electric water heater has power and the circuit breaker has not tripped. Pressing the reset button should do the trick if it turns off unexpectedly during a power outage. If that doesn’t work, you can contact a licensed plumber to perform water heater repair.

Unexpected noises coming from a water heater tank can be caused by the heating element igniting sediment at the bottom. To eliminate these noises, you’ll need to drain and flush your heater thoroughly. If flushing the tank doesn’t alleviate the unexpected noises, you might require a heating element replacement. Replacing a heating element or anode rod should be done by a licensed plumber.

Are You in the Market for a Replacement Water Heater?

Look no further — we can help! Whether it’s a faulty water heater that’s driving you up the wall or you need to upgrade to account for your growing family’s needs, Clarksburg Plumbing is here to help all residents with their water heater repair and replacement needs.

Home Advisor reports that homeowners spend an average of $500 on their water heater repairs. Most costs fall between $203 and $800. When considering whether it’s time for a replacement or repair for your water heater, take into account its age; most storage tank heaters last 10-15 years so if it appears nearing its end of life, replacing is usually preferable to paying for repairs. Instead of paying for repeated repairs, you might want to consider a full-blown replacement. Speak to your local, trusted and licensed plumber to determine which outcome is best for you.

Water heaters are not meant to last forever; a standard storage tank water heater has an expected lifespan of 12 years. No matter how well-maintained your unit may be, eventually its maximum capacity will be reached. While repairs can be done to an old water heater, they usually don’t justify the expense in terms of additional problems due to age and reduced energy efficiency. Our technicians will inspect your current setup and advise when it would be better to invest in a new one.

If you notice any of these issues with your unit, contact us right away for assistance:

• Water is heating and moving very slowly.
• The pilot light has gone out, especially if it’s a repeated occurrence.
• Your water heater produces loud, unwelcome rattling sounds.

Some of the most common issues that a water heater repair service performed by a reputable plumbing company include faulty burners, broken dip tubes, broken heating elements, and sediment build-up.

Gas Burner Problems

A drop in hot water volume when you’ve got a gas-powered heater is likely the result of a faulty pilot light. It could be that the burners are not staying lit long enough or shutting off too early, preventing heat from building up sufficiently. These issues could be due to airflow problems or dirt around the burners.

Broken Dip Tubes

The dip tube is the tube which transports cold water to the bottom of a tank where it gets heated by an exchanger. Unfortunately, this tube can burst, leading to a cold water build-up at the top of the tank, lowering water’s temperature as it leaves your tank. In order to resolve this issue, a professional will need to replace the dip tube during a water heater repair service.

Broken Heating Elements

Your electric water heater could be suffering from an electrical problem. It could be that one of its heating elements has failed. If one or more heating elements fails completely, the overall volume of heated water will decrease significantly.

Sediment Build-Up

The sediment layer at the bottom of a water tank will reduce heat exchanger efficiency, leading to a decrease in hot water volume. To resolve this problem, plumbers can flush the tank with fresh water.

Whether it’s a broken heating element or contaminated water that’s disrupting your home’s hot water supply, we’re here for you. Call Clarksburg Plumbing for water heater repair if your water heater is exhibiting any troubling symptoms — we can fix it!

See our most recent blog on this topic here.

Photo By Roman Budnyi at istock