Heating Things Up: Water Heater Problems that Leave You Out in the Cold

August 22, 2023

Taking a hot shower in the morning is something that you probably do to wake up and greet the day. What happens when you wake up to find that there is no hot water? Water heater repair issues can be very difficult to deal with.

The longer that it takes to get these problems repaired, the more interruptions you will ultimately have to your daily routine. If you are going to tackle these problems on your own, then you will have to find a way to adequately troubleshoot in order to ensure the right repairs are made the first time around. Here are some of the most common water heater issues you may find yourself facing.

The Cold Water Issue

The most common problem that you will face with a water heater is the fact that it isn’t producing the hot water you need. If the heat stops all of the sudden, then you may be dealing with a bad element. In order to get a look at your heating element, you will need to remove the cover where it’s housed. If your heating element looks to be rusted or corroded, then chances are it will need to be replaced. Generally, you’ll be able to find this heating element at your local hardware store.

Once replaced, make sure that the thermostat setting is right before jumping into the shower. The ideal heat setting for most homes is between 120 and 140 degrees. Neglecting to check the thermostat may lead to incidents of scalding.

Rusty Water is Never Good

In some cases, the issues that you face with your water heater will be due to the amount of use it gets over time. The longer that the same water heater is in a home, the more of a chance there will be that it will have rust on the inside of its tank. In some instances, this rust will begin to come out in the water.

If you start to notice that the water in your home has a rust color to it, you will need to act quickly to fix it. By flushing the tank, you will be able to remove a fair amount of the rust and restore the water in your home to its previous crystal clear consistency.

Leakage Problems

The rust that is on the inside of your water heater’s tank will only stay contained for so long. Eventually, the rust will start to eat through the tank and create tiny pinholes. These holes will allow water to leak out and can cause extensive damage if the problem is not addressed in a hurry. In most cases, a tank with these types of leaks will have to be replaced in order to restore functionality.

The best way to reduce the amount of damage a water heater can cause is by acting quickly when warning signs of repairs arise.

Actionable Steps:

• Inspect the heating element if there are ice cubes coming out of your shower faucet
• Flush the tank of the water heater if you have rust colored water
• Fix leakage issues immediately to avoid extensive water damage
• Call Hamilton Plumbing, Heating, A/C & Rooter at (913) 227-4943 to get a second opinion on the water heater issues you’re dealing with.

If you have additional questions or issues with your water heater, schedule your same day service now and have an expert help you!