Inspecting A Water Heater Is Needed For Dallas Homeowners
If a water heater is installed by a home owner, a handy man or an unlicensed subcontractor working for a big box store there can be issues if something goes wrong. If the water heater was installed incorrectly and it causes a flood or a fire inside the house the insurance company may deny your claim for damages.
Learn about the different pipe sizes, pipe connections, required valves, gas controls, and more in this video segment.
Hot Water Heater Inspection
For the most part they are reliable pieces of equipment that sit in a closet and quietly do their job. We don’t worry about them until we turn on the shower and have no hot water. Fall time is usually when most old hot water heaters fail because the water coming into the house is colder and the hot water tank works harder to heat the water.
There are several simple things you can do to make your water heater last longer but at some point it will need to be replaced. A simple visual inspection can tell you a great deal about your water heater. Do you have a fairly new tank but it doesn’t produce hot water? If there are any leaks or water standing around the tank you have a problem. Is your hot water tank “rumbling” like a volcano or whining? Does your hot water have a “rotten egg” smell or have an orange tint.
If your tank is fairly new and you have no hot water your first step should be to check the electrical breakers or the pilot light. If a breaker is tripped you don’t get power to the heating unit. If the pilot light won’t light, it could be a bad thermocouple or pilot control valve. With either unit you are not getting the energy to the tank to heat the water. A plumber can help you solve these issues.
The rumbling is from boiling water in the tank. Sediment has built up on the tank bottom and is actually overheating the water and running up your heating bill. Whining is caused by built up scale on heating elements in electric water heaters. Flushing your hot water tank on an annual basis is normally all the maintenance it will need. This should take care of the rumbling volcano. To clean the elements on an electric tank you need to turn it off, drain it and remove the elements. It is important that you let the tank completely fill with water before turning the power back on to the elements.
Stained or colored water is from a deteriorating tank and it’s time for a new one. If you’re uncomfortable doing any of this than call your local plumber and they will be glad to help.
Heating Hot water has advanced technology in the last several years. You now have many energy efficient options to choose from including electric, gas and tankless water heaters. The new tankless unit’s heat water as it passes through them. They provide an unlimited supply of hot water that is produced as it is needed. There are no storage tanks to rust or leak.
The Importance of Water Heater Maintenance
Sediment buildup is very common in water heaters, and can be a major contributor to making your system less efficient. If you’ve ever heard banging or knocking noises coming from your water heater, this is likely a sign that you need to have your water heater flushed. The sediment is caused from loose minerals in the water, which then settles on the bottom making it more difficult to produce hot water. Call us (214) 238-8353 for your home service and repair needs.
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