How To Tell If You Need Water Heater Repair Or Replacement | Keller, TX
One of the worst inconveniences any Keller, TX homeowner can ever endure is a failing or broken water heater. We have all become accustomed to having hot water on demand at any time during the day or night, whether for washing dishes, taking a shower or doing laundry, and having to face the lack of this commodity, especially during the winter months can wreak havoc in ways you can’t even imagine. Because, let’s face it, the last thing you want coming out of your pipes when you are covered in soap is ice-cold water. Because of this, having to repair or replace your water heater should be one of the most important things on your list once it starts to act up, and before you get hit by ice on a cold morning. But, how do you know which is your best option? Should you repair your old water heater? Should you change your entire water heating system? There are a few factors that will help you decide which way to go, so let’s take a look at the most common water heater problems and see what water heater repair options are available to you.
1. You have no hot water or it gets cold very fast.
This is probably the easiest problem to detect. You turn on the hot water tap to wash your dishes and it either never heats up or it turns cold after you wash only a few glasses, even when nobody else has used hot water all day. There are several possible reasons why this could happen, some are easier to resolve than others, but the main ones are usually the following:
- Your thermostat is not set to the correct temperature – Your water heater’s thermostat should be set to anywhere between 120 and 140 degrees. You can try setting it to that temperature and check again after an hour. If your water doesn’t come out hot after this time, the problem could lay elsewhere.
- The heating element may have given out – all water heaters, whether electric or gas powered, should be scheduled for maintenance at least once a year. When proper maintenance isn’t provided, the heating element may give out due to normal corrosion and age. This is one case in which you may benefit from water heater repair, but always keep in mind that a replacement might be necessary too.
- Your water heater’s tank may be too small – if you take into consideration how many appliances demand hot water throughout the day. It may be that your water heater’s tank is insufficient and can’t provide enough hot water for you to shower after you did a load of laundry, put the dishes in the washer, and your teenager has used the bathroom before you. In this case, replacement is probably the best way to go because you can get a new, larger, water heater to fit your home’s demand.
- The location of your water heater is not insulated – this normally happens when your water heater is located outside and is exposed to cold and rainy weather. In this case, if your water heater is in good working order when the weather is warm, you may benefit from a simple water heater repair and the installation of insulation to keep it from going cold when you least expect it.
2. Your water heater is making loud noises
Most water heaters make very little noise. In fact, you normally shouldn’t even notice it working. Hearing loud noises coming from your water heater means there is a problem brewing that must be taken care of as soon as possible, because there may be a build-up of sediment that is making it difficult for the water heater to work and if left unattended could lead to leaks and costlier water heater repair or replacement.
3. Your water heater is leaking
The surest sign of your water heater leaking is a pool of water around the tank or the pipes that go into it. When this happens you should call in an expert immediately because it won’t stop on its own and could cause damage to your property’s foundation, walls and furniture. Additionally, mold can set in due to the humidity accumulating inside your Keller, TX home’s walls. There are several reasons why your water heater would start leaking, but the most important one is the expansion of the tank’s metal every time it heats water. This can lead to tiny fractures that increase in size as the leak gets worse. Another reason could be that the connections were improperly tightened or have loosened over time. No matter what the reason, once it starts leaking you should call for water heater repair right away.
4. Your water heater is corroded on the inside
If you start seeing rust spots on the outside of your water heater, it means the inside has corroded as well. Sadly, no amount of water heater repair can solve this issue so you will have to talk to the experts to get a replacement before the problem grows to a point in which your home is damaged from the leaks the rusted area will produce.
Should You Opt for Water Heater Repair or Simply Replace The Old One?
There are two very important factors that should help you decide whether you need water heater repair or replacement. One is the nature of the problem and the other is the age of your water heater. At Tioga Plumbing & Electric we are happy to help you make the correct choice. Our water heater repair experts in Keller, TX have been specially trained to provide the most accurate information based on the specifics of your water heater’s issues and the needs of your household. So, don’t hesitate. If your home’s hot water supply is failing and your water heater has stopped working properly, give us a call and one of our pros will be happy to help you get your hot water running again the way it should always do.