A water heater is a common but vital appliance for homes in Australia. As with any type of home appliance, issues with this commonly used appliance can occur at any time.
Water heaters can be powered by gas or electricity. Some issues are more common in one type, while others are more common regardless of what is used to power the device. Looking for the root cause of the problem is relatively simple.
Listed here are some of the most common problems related to water heaters. Identifying the problem using this list can be done by process of elimination. Once you have found the suspected cause, call a professional plumber for hot water repairs. This way, you can rest assured that your water heater won’t continue to give you hassles.
● Leaking from the Top
The reason for this type of problem is the same in both gas and electric units. Check the connections going to both the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet pipes. Make sure that no connections are loose. The same goes with inlet valves and with temperature and pressure valves. If the connections are secure, it is possible that the valves are faulty. Call a professional home plumber to have them replaced.
● Water Leaks from the Bottom
There are several possible reasons why you could have a water puddle under your water heater. It could be a result of normal condensation. Try turning up the thermostat to see if it helps.
An excess in pressure could also cause the temperature and pressure valve to drain some of the water through the overflow pipe. Loose or leaking drain valves are other possible culprits. In the case of electric heaters, the heating gasket can also cause the leak. Leaks due to corrosion requires the replacement of the entire water heater. You will need the help of a plumber to get this done.
● Insufficient Hot Water
Consider upgrading your water heater if you can never seem to have enough hot water. Perhaps you have installed a bigger bathtub or a showerhead that uses more water. This indicates an increase in hot water consumption requirements. Look into buying a tankless water heater so you never run out of hot water.
A faulty thermostat is another possible reason why you don’t have enough hot water or if the water feels too hot. Check the temperature to see if it has been adjusted. The sometimes happens with the changing of the season from colder spring months to summer.
Accessing the thermostat on an electric water heater is trickier as it is hidden by a layer of insulation in an access panel at the side of the water tank. Other possible culprits include loose wiring and faulty elements among others.
● Excessive Water Heating Periods
One of the downsides of using electric water heaters is the amount of time it takes to reheat the water. Also referred to as the recovery time, electric water heaters take twice as long to reheat water in comparison to gas-powered models. But if your water heater takes longer than usual to produce hot water, there may be a problem with the heating elements inside. A buildup of sediment inside the heater can also cause the same problem.
● Unusual Flame Size
If the flame in your gas-powered heater is higher, lower, goes out, or produces a whistling sound, it is an indication of a clogged or dirty burner. A dirty vent, faulty thermocouple could also produce the same effects.
Plumbing should not be a DIY activity in order to try save money. Avoid taking any chances by doing the plumbing repairs yourself. Call an experienced plumber to get your water heater checked out, repaired or replaced. Hot water plumbers have the equipment and expertise to properly find the cause of the malfunction and get it fixed.
AUTHOR BIO
Based in South Melbourne, Blue Diamond Plumbing was founded in 1985, working on new homes, repairs and commercial contracts. Over time they have grown to become some of the best plumbers Melbourne has to offer. Since 2001 the company has specialised in Emergency Plumbing and Property Maintenance, Repairs and Renovations for homes and businesses in Melbourne and inner city suburbs. Owner Rod Diamond has over 30 years experience with emergency plumbing in Melbourne’s inner suburbs.