One of the first things that can cross your mind when you are in need of water heater repair for your home is what will happen during the tech’s visit. While the answer may seem pretty straightforward, there are a few things you should know in order to make your experience less stressful and more streamlined. Let’s face it, you probably think the water heater repair tech’s visit to your home will be just a matter of arriving and getting straight to work fixing your water heater, but there’s so much more to it, and it all starts with a quick chat with you, which will help the water heater repair tech arrive at a diagnosis. In this article, we will cover everything you can expect to happen during your water heater repair visit in order for you to be ready when it actually takes place. Let’s take a look.
How to Know When You Need Help
One of the most important things to keep in mind before your water heater repair technician shows up at your home is whether you actually need their services or your issue can be solved by adjusting your water heater’s thermostat. These are some occasions in which calling for water heater repair is fully warranted.
- There is less hot water than usual coming out of your fixtures – When the flow of hot water is reduced, whether the problem happens from one day to the next, or it takes time to develop, it could be a sign that there is a problem with your water heater’s tank. In areas with hard water, a reduced flow is usually related to the buildup of mineral scale. This is one case in which you should call for professional help before your water heater is damaged beyond any repair.
- There is strange smelling or discolored water coming from your taps – When you notice a strange smell or color in your home’s hot water, it could be a sign of several potential problems, one of which could be rust forming in your tank. This is another issue that requires professional intervention.
- Your water heater is making weird noises – You can expect a certain amount of noise to come from your water heater, especially when it turns on. But, if you hear loud knocking, banging, hissing, or cracking noises, your water heater could be letting you know it is in trouble, so don’t wait and call a pro right away.
- You notice your water heater is leaking, or find unexplained puddles under or near it – A leaky water heater is a potentially serious problem that could lead to severe damage to your unit, and your home. It is the type of problem that should never wait to be addressed by a professional water heater repair technician, so call for help right away.
- Your hot water’s temperature varies – When you are in the middle of a nice hot shower and you suddenly get hit by an icy blast of water without any warning, there could be trouble brewing in your water heater. This is a situation that requires a professional repair technician, so call as soon as possible.
What to Expect During the Visit
What takes place during your repair technician’s visit will largely depend on the exact issue that led you to call them in the first place. Even so, there are several common points that are always the same, including the following:
Brief interview with the homeowner
When your repair technician arrives at your home, they will ask you to show them the location of your water heater. They will then proceed to ask you a number of questions that will help them reach a preliminary diagnosis, including whether you are still getting any hot water at all, are there any strange noises coming from your water heater, does the temperature fluctuate, and what happened prior to you noticing the problem. The answers you give will be very helpful to the technician, and will provide important clues as to where the problem could be located, so make sure you give all the details, no matter how unimportant they might seem.
Initial inspection
Once the technician has made a preliminary diagnosis of where the problem might be found, they will start performing an initial inspection of your unit, focusing first on the areas where the problem might potentially be found. If they do not detect any issues in the suspected area, they will continue their inspection until they find the source of the problem.
Diagnosis and repair
When the root of the issue is found, the technician will proceed to make an accurate diagnosis and inform you of their findings. They will suggest any possible options, and let you know whether your water heater can be repaired or a replacement is in order. After talking to you, and getting the green light on the needed repairs, the tech will proceed to repair your water heater. Once done, they will then ask you to turn on one or more of your home’s fixtures to verify that the unit is once again working as it should.
Don’t try to save money by fixing the problem yourself.
Unless the problem with your water heater can be repaired by simply adjusting the thermostat or relighting the pilot light, it is never a good idea to attempt any repairs on your own unless you have formal training, otherwise, you may suffer severe injuries and cause untold damage to your property, so make sure you always can in a professional to help get your hot water flowing again.
When you are in need of water heater repair, your best bet is to always call the foremost experts in the area for the best service in town. At Tioga Plumbing & Electric, we are proud of our reputation, which has been carefully cultivated throughout our many years in service. So, don’t hesitate, when your water heater starts acting up, simply pick up your phone and give Tioga Plumbing & Electric a call for the most professional water heater repair services!
See our previous blog on this topic here.
Photo By Nemanja Cosovic at Shutterstock
