10 Things You Should Know About Residential Water Heater Repair

1. Type of Water Heater

While many water heaters use solar energy or propane to heat the water, the most commonly used elements are gas or electricity.

In order to find out if your water heater uses gas or electricity, look inside your water heater tank for a blue flame, which is the pilot flame that indicates that your water heater uses natural gas. You could also look for a 3-4 inch vent pipe which is used in gas water heaters to let out the fumes and gas. Electric water heaters do not use vent pipes.

It is very important to know the heating element and other specifications of the water heater so that you can get proper services for it because all companies might not provide maintenance and repair services of all types and models of the water heater.

Inexperienced plumbers, in their attempt to repair the water heater, could cause more damage resulting in higher bills or, in the worst case, the need to replace the water heater.

But the company you can easily trust is EZ Plumbing, the water heater repair company in Los Angeles because they have experience in managing all kinds of water heaters there are in the market. Thus, you will receive the best service and have no complaints.

2. Cost of Water Heater Repair

If there is any problem with our water heater like leaks, slow heating, less water pressure, your first response should be to inspect your water heater.

Costs of water heater repair can be inexpensive or expensive depending on which part needs to be replaced or repaired. If the matter is not looked into immediately, one faulty part can lead to other parts getting defective over time, resulting in the repair costs going up.

Replacing the anode rod or fixing pipe leaks can be inexpensive, but other things like replacing broken ignitors, expansion tanks, or circulating systems can be expensive.

If there is any problem with your water heater, turn off the power switch, step away and call an experienced plumber or mechanic who does water heater repair in Los Angeles.

If they also provide water heater maintenance services in Los Angeles, it is an added benefit. Contact them to identify what exactly is the problem with your water heater and get an exact estimate on how much it is going to cost you.

3. Hot Water Not Available in the House

This is the most common problem that happens. Check every tap and faucet to find out if hot water is not available in some outlets or the hot water outlets across the whole house.

Check the outlet pipes and the pressure valve. If it is warm, it indicates that there is some problem with the pipes. If the water heater had stopped functioning quite some hours back, you would not feel much warmth even in the pipes.

If it is a gas water heater, it might be that the gas valve or the thermocouple is not working. If it is an electric water heater, the reasons could be many – faulty upper or lower thermostat, tripped circuit breaker, issues with any internal electric elements, etc.

Call for an electrician or plumber from EZ Plumbing, the water heater repair company in Los Angeles, to get a proper idea of what the problem is and get it fixed.

4. Discolored Water

You might be surprised to see discolored water when you turn on the tap. While there is no reason to panic, it certainly is a cause of concern.

Discolored water can be due to many reasons, and the problem might be in your water heater or somewhere else like rusting of pipes and fixtures. If you have galvanized iron pipes, rusting could be a reason for discolored water, and the pipe system would have to be changed.

Another reason could be iron-reducing bacteria in the tank which oxidizes. This can be fixed by flushing out the tank and cleaning the tank with chlorine water.

It could also be due to the accumulation of minerals inside the tank. This can also be fixed by flushing out the tank, and to avoid this problem, flushing every year is very important as this accumulation of minerals reduces the efficiency of the water heater and damages the heating element.

If your tank is made up of iron or metal, like in a traditional water heater, rusty water can be due to corrosion of the tank. These problems are hard to identify, so call for a professional who provides all kinds of water heater repair in Los Angeles and plumbing services.

Their water heater repair services in Los Angeles should be good enough that you can rely on them to complete the work properly.

5. Strange Noises From the Water Heater

It is natural for a water heater to make some little buzzing noises, but if the noises are too loud, then there is a chance that your water heater is facing some severe issues.

The noises could be because of huge sedimentation buildup in the tank and heating elements. Accumulation of minerals is quite common in any water-related appliances and is a clear indication that the system needs to be clean.

The only solution is to call a repairman to flush out the tank and clean all parts of the water heater properly, so contact a professional like EZ Plumbing as they provide water heater repair services in Los Angeles.

6. Leaks or Moisture Around the Tank

The leaks in the tank could be because of various reasons, and sometimes these could be small enough that they are easily fixed at home.

The reasons for the leak can be determined by knowing from where the leak is occurring. If it is at the bottom of the tank, it means that the drain valve, which is used to drain water from the tank, is loose or broken.

One more thing you need to know is that if the drain valve is loose, then you need to tighten it so that it doesn’t come out.

As the water gets heated, the pressure inside the tank increases. If the temperature-pressure release valve is loose or malfunctioning, this could cause water to leak from any other opening.

Sometimes the inlet connection, the pipe through which water flows into the tank or the outlet connection, the pipe through which water flows out of the tank may be faulty, causing water leaks.

Water leaks are a major problem and need to be fixed immediately. So call the company which provides water maintenance in Los Angeles. They should also provide water heater repair services in Los Angeles in case any part needs repair.

7. Inadequate Amount of Hot Water

There could be many reasons why you could be running out of hot water, and they depend on factors like whether your heater is a traditional or tankless water heater or a gas or electric water heater.

If it is a traditional water heater, it might be that the water heater is overused, or there is a deposit of elements at the bottom of the tank, and the water heater is not able to use all the space available or there might be leaks in the tank.

Sometimes the heating element burns. Other reasons could be a damaged thermostat, dip tube, or aluminum rod in the case of gas water heaters.

These problems can be difficult to identify; so take the help of a professional water heater maintenance company in Los Angeles.

8. Inconsistent Temperature or Not Enough Hot Water

If you frequently run out of hot water because the tank is not big enough to meet the needs of the household, you might need to install an additional water heater or get a new one with a bigger tank or a tankless one. Here, repairing is not an option.

If the problem is inconsistent temperature, you need to check the dip tube, the tube which lets cold water into the tank. This tube could be broken or cracked, letting cold water into the system, and has to be replaced or repaired.

You also need to check if the thermostat or the temperature-pressure release valve is working properly. If it is a gas water heater, the pilot light might be faulty and needs to be replaced.

In an electric water heater, if the heating element might not be working properly, it might need to be replaced or repaired. EZ Plumbing, the water heater services company in Los Angeles, can assist you with any water heater problem.

9. Low Pressure of Water

The reasons for the low pressure of hot water could be water scale or mineral buildup in the tank, which blogs the pipes restricting water movement.

The reason for this deposition could be if the anode rod is eroded and needs to be replaced. This rod helps separate these minerals from the hard water, and when it malfunctions, minerals begin to deposit in the tank and pipes.

And the reason for this is a broken shut-off valve which is not opening properly; then the valve needs to be replaced. If the valve is soldered on instead of a screw-on one, then contact EZ Plumbing, the water heater repair services in Los Angeles, to get it replaced.

10. Repair or Replacement

You might be considering whether replacement or repair is a more economical choice. A storage water heater can last even up to 15 years on average without causing much trouble.