Our water heaters are essential, to the degree that we often don’t realize how grateful we are for them until we encounter water heater problems. We rely on our water heaters every day, and when we experience water heater problems it can mean many daily tasks become difficult or impossible, from showering to doing the dishes.
Luckily, many of the hot water heater problems commonly encountered are easy to fix. Common water heater problems include:
- You notice water leaking from the top or bottom of the water heater
- You have no hot water, keep running out, or it takes longer to reheat
- The water is too hot
- The hot water pressure is low
- The water appears dirty
- On a gas water heater, the pilot light or burner will not stay lit
When it comes to these water heater problems it may be possible to replace certain water heater parts, rather than replace your water heater entirely, to keep costs down and fix your water heater.
Read on for information on how to tackle a few of these common water heater problems.
Fix Leaking Water Heater
A common problem for both gas and electric water heaters is leaking from the top. There are a few simple and easily fixable problems that might cause this issue:
- This might be a sign that the cold inlet or hot outlet pipes are loose
- This might indicate that the T&P (temperature and pressure relief) valve has failed
- There may be a leak from your inlet valve
Luckily, these issues are fairly straightforward, for example, if the water heater temperature and pressure relief valve has failed, it can be replaced and is an easy way to fix a leaking water heater.
Water heaters also sometimes leak from the bottom. If you have an electric water heater, this is most likely just caused by condensation. It could also be due to a leaking electric heating element gasket. Another common cause is not a leak, but a little water released through the overflow pipe. However, in the unlikely event that an electric water heater tank is actually leaking, it will need to be replaced, you will be unable to fix the leaking water heater.
If your gas water heater is leaking from the bottom, condensation could also be an issue here, and one which can easily be resolved by turning up the thermostat. As above, the water tank releasing pressure and water through the overflow pipe could also be a cause. Often, the cause is a leaking drain valve, in this instance, the water heater drain valve would need to be replaced to fix the leaking water heater.
Fix Water Heater Pilot
If you have a gas water heater, the pilot light is often the cause of water heater problems.
If your water heater pilot light often goes out, there are several ways to fix the water heater pilot.
There is a good likelihood that the thermocouple is the cause. Carbon will build up on the thermocouple over time. Another possibility is that the thermocouple is bent, or damaged and in need of replacement to fix water heater pilot issues.
Similarly to the thermocouple, the pilot light tube also experiences carbon build up. A dirty pilot light tube could also be the cause of your water heater problems and could be dangerous.
Luckily, it is possible to replace the water heater pilot part and therefore fix water heater pilot problems.
Fix Water Heater Thermostat
Your water heater thermostat regulates the temperature of the water you use every day.
The first thing to check is the temperature that your thermostat is set at. If seasons have changed since you last checked, it’s likely that to fix the water heater thermostat you just need to change the temperature to one better suited to the current season.
If changing seasons is not the issue, it is likely that the thermostat is defective. Luckily it is possible to fix a water heater thermostat by replacing the defective thermostat part.
Tackle Your Water Heater Problems
Tackle your water heater problems with the parts you need. Find the right water heater parts, including water heater temperature and pressure relief valves, water heater drain valve parts, water heater pilot parts, and thermostat parts with Repair Clinic.