Blog Layout

4 Common Water Heater Problems

Admin • May 07, 2019

Water Heater and Pipes — Rochester Hills, MI — Briarwood Heating & Cooling

Water heaters are an amazing invention that allows people to use hot water inside their home for bathing, cleaning, and washing. Many water heaters use tanks, which store hot water until needed. Unfortunately, a lot of problems can arise when you have a giant tank of hot water in your home, so check out these four common water heater problems, so you can avoid and/or fix them.

1. Too Much Sediment Buildup

The water inside the tank is clean enough to drink, but even clean drinking water sometimes contains small amounts of minerals. These minerals are fine in small doses, but as more and more water enters and leaves the tank, this leaves behind more and more sediment. This can affect how well the system works because not as much water can fit inside the tank when the sediment begins to build.

If you do have a lot of sediment in the tank, you may notice noises if the sediment encounters the heating element and burns away. If a lot of sediment covers the heating element, however, the sediment may bury it, making the heating less effective, so your water isn't as hot as you'd like. To remove sediment, you'll need to flush the tank on a regular basis.

2. Smelly or Discolored Water

If you neglect to clean the sediment from your tank, bacteria can begin to develop. This bacteria can make you and your family sick when you use the water. In addition, the bacteria can cause unpleasant-smelling water (like rotten eggs). This is because of the gases released when the bacteria dies. You'll need to flush the system to fix the issue.

On the other hand, if the water isn't smelly but looks rusty, you may have rust in the water heater. Most tanks have a protective coating to prevent water from causing rust, so rust in the water may indicate the barrier has failed. In this case, you'll likely need a new water heater.

3. Water Is Too Hot or Too Cold

The water heater keeps water at a certain temperature. When you use the faucet, you have control over how hot you actually want the water. However, if the water heater is set too high, this can make the water too hot. Not only does this waste money but also increases the risk of burns.

Similarly, the water may be too cold because the water heater is set too low. In either case, you can fix the problem by adjusting the thermostat on the water heater. Other reasons the water may be too cold are often due to sediment buildup, but ineffective heating may be a sign the heating element is failing if your system is older.

4. Leaking Water

Your water heater tank definitely should not leak any water, but condensation can build, especially around the bottom. If you do notice actual leaking water, something is wrong. If water leaks from the top, this is likely from the inlet or outlet pipes. They may simply not be tight enough. In some cases, however, this can indicate a valve has failed or is leaking.

Water leaking from the bottom can also be problematic. In some cases, the heating gasket may be too tight or not tight enough. Often, however, pooling water around the bottom of the tank can indicate the tank has ruptured from rust. If this is the case, the tank will need to be replaced.

Water heaters are invaluable for providing you and your family with warm, clean water. However, when the tank isn't well maintained, this can lead to buildup and leaks. If you would like to know more about water heater tank repair or installation, contact us at Briarwood Heating & Cooling.

< Older Post Newer Post >