Water Heater Issues? Call A Plumber Specializing In Water Heater Repair | Oak Ridge, TN
Every appliance in your home is designed to make your life more convenient, and some are essential to your daily life, and you can live without others for a few days. For example, you can hand wash the dishes if the dishwasher breaks down and go to the laundromat if your washer or dryer breaks down. You need a refrigerator to keep your food and drinks cold and your stove to prepare meals. Another appliance you can’t live without is your water heater. The water entering your house is cold, and the unit heats and stores the water, so you always have hot water when needed. Water heater issues can affect the water’s temperature, and some problems can affect your ability to use the hot water.
Water heater repair should never be a DIY project for a few reasons. First, water heaters run on electric, gas, propane, or oil, and you should never work with these power sources without the necessary training. In addition, water heaters are complex appliances, and if you make one minor mistake, you could do more damage. Finally, a DIY water heater repair will void the warranty, and future problems won’t be covered, so you’ll have to pay for the repair yourself.
If your water heater experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to hire a plumber in Oak Ridge, TN specializing in water heater repair as soon as possible.
#1 The Unit Isn’t Heating the Water
Your water heater is designed to heat and store water, and the water should be hot when you turn on the hot water. If you turn on the hot water tap and cold water comes out, you should hire a plumber in Oak Ridge, TN specializing in water heater repair. You rely on hot water all day and can’t shower, clean, or perform other everyday tasks. In addition, your hot water-based appliances rely on hot water to function correctly, so a lack of hot water can make life in your home inconvenient.
A few issues can prevent the unit from heating the water, and you’ll need to hire a water heater repair professional to determine the cause so they can resolve the problem.
- Failed heating element: The heating element is the component that heats the stored water, and if it isn’t working, cold water will come from the hot water tap. A plumber will inspect and fix the heating element, but the component may need to be replaced if this isn’t possible.
- The unit’s age: The average lifespan of a water heater is eight to 12 years. The unit will no longer be able to heat the water if it’s nearing the end of its life, and you’ll need to hire a plumber to install a new unit and dispose of your old one.
Since you can’t live without hot water, it’s best to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair if the unit fails to heat the water.
#2 The Water Isn’t Hot Enough
The water coming from the taps in your home should be hot when you turn on the hot water faucet, and you may have a problem if the water doesn’t get hotter than lukewarm. Nobody wants to shower in lukewarm water, and this isn’t hot enough for your hot water-based appliances to function, and you may need to hire a professional in water heater repair. Before you schedule an appointment, check the unit’s thermostat. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends setting the thermostat to 120 to 140 degrees. This is hot enough for you to perform everyday tasks and for your appliances to function correctly, and not so hot that you can be scalded. If the thermostat is set below 120 degrees, adjusting it should solve the problem. If the thermostat is set correctly, it’s time to hire a plumber in Oak Ridge, TN specializing in water heater repair. A few issues can prevent the unit from heating the water to the desired temperature, and you’ll need a professional to make a diagnosis.
- Broken thermostat: If the thermostat is broken, the unit won’t get the correct signal and won’t heat the water to the desired temperature. A plumber will check the thermostat and fix it if possible; if not, they can replace it.
- One faulty heating element: Some water heaters have two heating elements, and if one fails, the functional element won’t have enough power to heat the water supply to the desired temperature, and it won’t get hotter than lukewarm. A plumber can inspect the heating element to determine if it can be fixed or if the component or the unit must be replaced.
- The unit’s age: When your water heater nears the end of its lifespan, it will function less efficiently than it once did and will struggle to heat the water to the desired temperature. This isn’t something a plumber can fix, and it’s time to replace the unit.
Your hot water won’t be restored until you schedule an appointment for water heater repair, so it’s best to hire a plumber immediately. The sooner you make the call, the sooner you’ll have hot water.
#3 You Run Out of Hot Water Often
You’ll run out of hot water quickly if you use too much in a short period. For example, if you’re last in line for the shower and the washer or dishwasher runs, the water supply will be depleted, and it can take an hour or more for the unit to recover. It’s normal for this to happen occasionally, but if it happens often, you should call a plumber in Oak Ridge, TN with experience in water heater repair. A couple of issues can deplete the water supply frequently.
- A change in your household: You can run out of hot water if someone has recently moved into your house. Water heaters come in different sizes and hold 40 to 80 gallons of water, and your tank may not be large enough to handle your family’s hot water demand.
- If this is the problem, you’ll have to replace the water heater with one that has a larger tank, or you can install a tankless model that provides hot water on demand, and there’s no risk of running out of hot water.
- Sediment buildup: It’s normal for sediment to build up in the tank over time, so plumbers recommend maintaining the unit yearly. They will flush the water from the tank along with the sediment to prevent a significant buildup. If you have neglected routine maintenance, large amounts of sediment will build up and take up space meant for water storage. When there isn’t as much space in the tank, it can’t store as much water, causing you to run out quickly.
- A plumber specializing in water heater repair will try to flush the sediment from the tank, but this can be impossible if there’s too much buildup, and the unit must be replaced.
There’s nothing worse than taking a cold shower, and if this happens often, it’s best to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair immediately.
#4 Poor Hot Water Pressure
Adequate water pressure is necessary to perform daily tasks. For example, washing your hair and dishes will take longer without proper water pressure. Also, your hot water-based appliances need intense water pressure to function correctly.
If the hot and cold water pressure is reduced, there’s an issue with the plumbing system. However, if just the hot water pressure is poor, the problem is with the water heater, and it’s best to hire a professional in water heater repair in Oak Ridge, TN.
When large amounts of sediment build up in the tank, it can get into the waterline, creating a clog that will slow the water pressure. The plumber can remove the clog from the waterline, but if they can’t flush the sediment from the tank, the unit must be replaced. If you continue using your existing water heater, the waterline will continue to clog, and you’ll have to pay for a service call every time it happens.
#5 Brown or Rust-Colored Hot Water
The water coming from the taps in your house should be clear, and brown or rust-colored water indicates contamination, and it isn’t safe to use the water. If the hot and cold water is discolored, the issue is with the plumbing system, and there’s either a rusty pipe or a crack in an underground pipe. If just the hot water is discolored, the issue is with the water heater, and you should hire a plumber in Oak Ridge, TN specializing in water heater repair. A couple of issues can cause contamination, and you’ll need a professional to determine the cause.
- Significant sediment buildup: When a substantial amount of sediment builds up in the tank, the hot water will cause it to break down and contaminate the stored water. A plumber specializing in water heater repair will try to flush the sediment, but if they can’t, the unit must be replaced to ensure the hot water is clean and free of contaminants.
- The unit’s age: If your unit is nearing the end of its life, the inside of the tank could be breaking down. This will cause sediment, minerals, and tiny metal shards to contaminate the water, making it unsafe. This problem cannot be fixed and is a sign that it’s time to replace the water heater.
You’ll need a plumber specializing in water heater repair to resolve the problem, ensuring the water is safe. You shouldn’t use the hot water until the issue is resolved because it can make you sick and can damage your skin and hair. If you have to use hot water, you should boil it first to eliminate the harmful contaminants.
#6 Moisture On and Around the Unit
Moisture buildup on the unit or the wall or floor around it indicates an issue that requires a call to a plumber in Oak Ridge, TN. You should make the call immediately because the moisture can cause water damage and mold growth around the unit.
This problem indicates a cracked, loose or disconnected hose, and fortunately, this is an easy repair and won’t cost a fortune to fix.
#7 Water Pooling Around the Unit
The area around the water heater should be dry. If there’s water pooling around the unit, you should turn off the water to the unit and then schedule an emergency water heater repair appointment. The pooling water indicates a crack in the tank, and if you allow the water to keep filling the tank, it will flood your home, causing significant water damage and mold growth. Unfortunately, a crack in the tank cannot be fixed, and you’ll need to replace the unit. When the plumber installs the new unit, the water going to the unit will be restored, and the flood risk will be eliminated.
Call My Professional Plumber Today
If your water heater acts up and you need to hire a plumber specializing in water heater repair, the professionals at My Professional Plumber can help. We’re a full-service plumbing company providing excellent service to our customers in Knoxville and the surrounding areas for years.
Our certified plumbers have undergone years of professional training and apprenticeship to learn their craft. Their knowledge and skill have allowed them to successfully complete some of the most challenging jobs in the plumbing industry.
We understand how essential your plumbing system is to your daily life, so you don’t have to worry if you have a problem that must be addressed immediately. We provide emergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’ll send a plumber to your house to resolve the problem quickly so your life can return to normal.
We’ve earned an excellent reputation in the community over the years and have a 5-star rating on Google. We’ve also been recognized for our excellent service in the industry with the awards we’ve won. We won Home Advisor‘s Best Of Award in 2017 and Cityview’s Best of the Best in 2018. In addition, we won Angie’s List Super Service Award the same year and again in 2019.
Call My Professional Plumber today if you need to schedule an appointment for water heater repair or any other plumbing service.
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