Water heaters play a critical role in facility operations. When faced with a faulty or aging water heater, it can be challenging to determine whether repair or replacement is the best option.
Insulate your water heater and hot pipes extending from the appliance to reduce energy loss. It would be best to have a plumber replace the anode rod every five years. Contact Water Heater Repair Denver for professional help.
Leaking water heaters can be a huge hassle and cause severe damage to your home. They can flood rooms, ruin carpets and furniture, and cause rotting to wooden structures. This is especially true with gas powered water heaters as the leaking can be accompanied by dangerous and toxic fumes. If you have a leaky water heater, it’s best to turn off the power (for electric water heaters) or the gas line to the appliance immediately. After that, you can proceed with caution to inspect your tank and pipes for problems.
It is important to distinguish between a minor and major water heater leak as this will determine whether or not you need a replacement water heater. Minor leaks can often be repaired by a professional plumber. Major leaks, on the other hand, often indicate that your water heater is nearing the end of its useful life and should be replaced immediately.
Water heaters last between 6 and 12 years, so if yours is older than that, it’s probably time for a new one. There are several places where a leak may occur, but the most common place is the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater. This spigot allows the tank to be drained for maintenance and flushing purposes, but can become loose or damaged over time.
Other possible leak sources include the temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P) and the inlet and outlet connections. If you notice a leaking T&P valve, be sure to turn off your home’s gas flow to the appliance and allow it to cool before you attempt to open the valve. This valve is designed to release steam and water to prevent overpressure in the tank, but if it’s faulty it can leak from anywhere along the lines it connects to.
Pooling water at the top of your water heater is usually caused by the cold and hot water inlet and outlet pipes that bring water into the tank to be heated and then out into your home’s plumbing system when you need it. If you find a loose or detached pipe connection at the top of your water heater, you can use a wrench to tighten it. However, be careful not to overtighten as this could cause further damage.
Water Heater Smells
Over time, a water heater can accumulate dust and grime on its surfaces. When the hot surface comes into contact with this dust, it can start to burn, giving off a burning smell that can permeate a home. If you notice this burning scent, turn off the power to your water heater and wipe down its surface. This should take care of the issue. If the smell persists, you may need to replace your water heater.
If your hot water smells like rotten eggs, it likely is due to a buildup of sulfate-reducing bacteria inside the tank. These bacteria feed on sulfur and produce hydrogen sulfide gas as waste. The resulting gas makes your water smell like rotten eggs, but isn’t dangerous to drink.
In addition to sulfate-reducing bacteria, the rotten egg smell can also be caused by a reaction between your water and the magnesium anode rod in your water heater. This sacrificial piece of metal attracts corrosive buildup to prevent it from gnawing away at more vital parts of the water heater. When the magnesium anode degrades, it releases hydrogen sulfide gas into your water. Changing the magnesium anode to an aluminum or zinc one can help resolve this problem and eliminate that terrible rotten egg smell.
A water heater that smells like gas is another serious concern and should always be dealt with immediately. A natural gas leak is extremely dangerous to your family and pets and should be addressed by a professional as soon as possible. Shut off the power to your water heater and call a plumber to find and fix the leak.
A non-gas leak can be just as dangerous, and you should still seek professional help right away. Loose wiring can cause electrical shorts, generating heat that can melt the insulative covers on the wires and start to burn them. This is a major fire hazard and should be corrected by a qualified electrician. It’s also a good idea to shut off the breakers that supply power to your water heater until this is done.
Water Heater Water Discoloration
The last thing you want to see when you turn on your shower is milky or brown water. The good news is that discolored water is not uncommon and can often be easily remedied. The first step is determining the source of the discoloration. Does the problem occur with only your hot water or cold water? If only your hot water is discolored, the underlying cause may not be your water heater.
It could be the municipality’s water supply. Disturbances to the municipal water supply from flushing fire hydrants, testing or repairs and water line issues can dislodge deposits in your municipal water pipes that can be carried into your home. Run your hot and cold taps to see if the discoloration also appears in your cold water. If both your hot and cold water are discolored, the underlying problem is likely a discolored sediment buildup in your municipal water pipes or a bacteria issue that needs to be addressed.
On the other hand, if your whole house is experiencing the same discoloration and it’s only in your hot water, it’s probably a problem with your water heater or the piping that connects to it. Older galvanized steel water heater tanks and piping are especially susceptible to rust and corrosion that can release rusty orange or dark brown water into your hot water supply.
Over time, mineral sediment that condenses out of your hot water can accumulate in layers on the bottom of your water heater tank. This not only discolors your hot water, it can block the gas burner and electric elements, raise operating costs and shorten the life expectancy of your water heater. Regularly draining and flushing your water heater tank will help prevent these problems.
If your water heater is ten or fifteen years old and you’ve been noticing discoloration in your hot water, it may be time to replace it. A newer, more efficient model will not only provide better quality hot water, it’ll also save you money on your utility bills.
Water Heater Not Heating
There’s nothing worse than stepping into your shower to start your day only to be greeted by ice-cold water. If you’ve tried turning up the temperature on your water heater and are still having problems, it could be a sign that your hot water heater needs to be replaced. If you’ve experienced this issue over a long period of time, it’s probably a good idea to invest in a new water heater that will be more energy efficient and cost less to operate.
If your water heater is not producing hot water at all, it may be a sign that the upper heating element has stopped working or that the pilot light has burned out. If this is the case, you can try relighting the pilot light by following the instructions that come with your water heater. If you’re unable to get the pilot light to stay lit, this could indicate that there is a problem with the thermocouple, which is designed to stop gas flow if it senses that the pilot light is out.
Another possible cause for a lack of hot water is that your home’s electrical system is not providing sufficient power to the water heater. In some cases, this can be caused by a faulty or overloaded breaker. If this is the case, it’s a good idea to call a qualified electrician to determine what is causing the issue and how to resolve it.
In addition to a lack of hot water, you may also notice that your water heater is making strange noises or leaking water around the base of the unit. If you’ve noticed this issue, it’s important to turn off the power to your water heater immediately and contact a professional plumber to inspect it.
If you’ve turned off the power to your water heater and are still experiencing issues, there could be a problem with the temperature-pressure relief valve on the tank. This is a safety feature that’s designed to prevent overpressure and leakage, so it should be replaced as soon as possible.