Basic Water Heaters Troubleshooting

You probably don't think about your water heater until a cold shower or a telltale puddle suggests you need a new one. Before you shell out 0 or 0 for a storage-tank heater or up to ,200 for a more-efficient tankless model, see whether the old water heater can be fixed.

Common water heaters repair:

Water Leaking
If water is leaking from the base of your water heater, it could be coming from the drain valve. You can try to tighten the valve located at the base of the tank. If it is defective, replace it. For gas water heater, check if the vent is obstructed. If you find an obstruction, turn off the water heater and clean the flue. For electric unit, leaks can come from the heating element gaskets, which is something that will not happen if you have an on demand electric hot water heater. Before you drain the water from the heater to replace the gasket, turn off the power and close the water supply.

Water is Not Hot
Another common problem for water heaters is improper heating. If you are using a gas hot water heater and repairs involves handling the gas connections should be done by the local gas utility company or a qualified and licensed plumber.

Work done on natural gas connections by an untrained and unlicensed person is dangerous and most likely in violation of local regulations and building codes.

For an electric model, the first thing to check is the circuit breaker. No power will reach the heater if the unit is tripped. All you need is to reset the breaker.

Electric units have 2 thermostat (upper and lower) and heating element. Reset the upper thermostat first. If this doesn't solve the problem, use an analog or digital multimeter to make sure power is getting to the upper heating element. If not, shut off the water supply and drain the tank, turn off all power to the appliance and replace the thermostat.

The element itself being defective is very possible. It is very easy to replace it. Repeat the whole process with the lower thermostat and heating element if the problem is still not solved.

Supply of Hot Water is Reduced
If there are no leaks but your heater is not putting out enough hot water, drain the tank to make sure the cause is not due to mineral deposits. To do this, turn off the electricity or gas. Attach a hose to the drain valve to drain the water outside after you have turned off the inlet valve. Open the drain valve and open a hot water faucet anywhere in your house to allow air in. After all the water has being drained, turn off the valve to the cold water until the drain water is clear. Close the drain valve, refill the tank and turn the electricity or gas back on.

Insufficient Water
If the water is not hot enough on your gas water heater, make sure the pilot light is lit. Follow the manufacturer’s directions to relight it. Also try turning up the thermostat. For electric units, just turn the thermostat to a higher temperature.