When your home’s water heater is malfunctioning, there are possibilities that you could attempt a DIY repair when the dilemma is relatively basic. This could include resetting the water heater system, adjusting some settings, or clearing out sediment buildup.
Some of the key elements of water heater troubleshooting include checking for tripped circuit breakers, checking for failed heating elements, checking the water heater’s set temperature, and checking for leaky plumbing connections.
We’ve teamed up with the Best water heater repair near Murray, UT experts at Beehive Plumbing to develop this list of common water heater repairs and their subsequent solutions, so check out the below sections if your water heater is acting up and you’re curious if it’s something you could fix on your own!
Water Heater Not Properly Heating Up Your Home’s Water Supply
One of the most obvious water heater issues is when it’s simply not heating up your water supply like it’s supposed to, and this issue is often connected to the water heater system not getting enough power. This could be connected to a failed heating element or a tripped limit switch, and here are some troubleshooting tips to keep in mind in this scenario:
- Double-check the unit’s circuit breaker to make sure it hasn’t tripped.
- If the breaker is in the OFF position, turn it back ON.
- If the breaker wasn’t tripped, reset the heater’s high-temperature limit by turning the water heater off via the unit’s service panel.
- Press the high-temperature reset button.
Deficient Hot Water Volume & Temperature
It’s also common for water heaters to experience deficiencies in terms of the overall volume of hot water they produce and/or the temperature of the water they produce.
This means that your water could be perfectly hot, but it doesn’t last long enough for showering or other daily activities. Conversely, it could also mean that your water temperature is tepid at best.
Here are some more in-depth details about both deficiency scenarios:
- Low Hot Water Volume: It’s possible that the water heater is experiencing a failed heating element, and when your hot water runs out abnormally quickly, it’s likely associated with a defective lower heating element. It’s important to remember that this is never a DIY repair, and that you’ll need water heater repair specialists to replace your system’s heating elements.
- Normal Volume, Tepid Water: This issue is often connected to sediment buildup within your water heater’s storage tank. This could potentially be a DIY repair if you properly flush the water and sediment out of the system.
Hot Water Is Too Hot!
It’s also common for households to experience their hot water supply being simply too hot for comfort, and this type of dilemma is often the result of a unit’s thermostat being set much too high.
When your water supply is too hot, consider the following troubleshooting steps:
- Use the unit’s service panel to turn off the water heater’s power.
- Check the unit’s heat settings in the access panel, and make sure that the thermostat isn’t set higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use a flathead screwdriver to adjust your heat settings to a more desirable temperature via the set screw.
- Replace the access panel and turn the water heater’s power back on.
Water Heater Leaks
There are various causes of water heater leaks, including faulty plumbing connections and leaking valves. If your system’s water is leaking out hot water, it’s possible that the leak is being caused by a faulty outlet pipe.
You’ll want to carefully inspect your system for loose outlet and inlet pipes, and if you find a loose connection, you’ll use a wrench to re-tighten the connection and halt the leaking.
Smelly or Rusty Water
If your water supply has a yellow, brown or reddish hue to it as it flows out of faucets, it’s likely connected to an internally corroded water heater tank. And when your water smells strange, it’s likely associated with your water heater tank containing harmful bacteria.
You’ll need to hire a professional plumber to properly replace your water heater’s anode rod to get your water supply back to normal again.
Noisy Water Heater Tank
If you hear any popping, low rumbling or high-pitched squealing coming from your water heater, it’s likely connected to sediment buildup within the tank that’s creating an inadvertent boiling effect.
In order to fix a noisy water heater, you’ll need to follow these troubleshooting steps:
- Turn the system’s water supply and power off.
- Attach a garden hose to the water heater’s bottom valve.
- Open the unit’s temperature pressure relief valve located at the top of the tank and open the drain valve located at the bottom of the tank.
- Let all of the sediment and water fully drain out of the tank.
- Close up the pressure relief and drain valves.
- Remove the hose.
- Turn the water heater back on again.
Pressure Relief Valve Damages
Your water heater’s temperature pressure relief valve is often located on the top or side of the tank, and it’s possible for these valves to develop slow leaks after many years of usage.
In these scenarios, it’s possible to do a DIY valve replacement by following these steps:
- Turn off the water heater’s cold water and electricity supply.
- Open the pressure relief valve and drain water out of it to a bucket placed below the valve’s drain pipe.
- Use a pipe wrench to unscrew the pressure relief valve.
- Screw the new valve into your water heater using Teflon plumber’s tape.
Contact Beehive Plumbing For The Best Water Heater Repair Team Near Murray, UT!
It’s important to remember that DIY water heater repairs can end up causing more harm than good, which is why it’s typically best to leave these complex plumbing services in professional hands.
One of the top-rated water heater repair teams in the Murray, UT area is Beehive Plumbing, and you can speak with their experts today when you check out their website via the link at the top of the page!