Water Heater Repair? Don’t Do It Yourself! | Irving, TX
The importance of the water heater in your Irving, TX house cannot be overstated. It is responsible for ensuring that your home has an adequate supply of hot water. Without a properly functioning water heater in your home, you and your family will be forced to take cold showers and perform other cleaning tasks with ice-cold water, which is quite uncomfortable and ineffective. If your water heater is malfunctioning, it can also produce dangerously hot water that can put you and your family in danger of sustaining burn injuries. As such, most water heater problems are emergency plumbing issues, and therefore, they need to be fixed as soon as they have been identified. You should fight any temptation to try DIY water heater repair and instead ensure that all your repairs are done by a licensed plumber. Below is a rundown of some reasons you should never try repairing water heater issues on your own.
You Could Void Your Warranty
A water heater is quite a pricey appliance, and it usually comes with a warranty. If your water heater is relatively new, its warranty could still be valid. This means that if something goes wrong, you can still hold the manufacturer accountable. For instance, the manufacturer might accept to pay for water heater repairs if your water heater develops problems during the period stipulated in the warranty. However, water heater warranties are not without conditions. For instance, for your warranty to remain valid, you might be required to ensure that all water heater maintenance and repair jobs are done by a licensed plumber. In such a case, if you try to repair a water heater on your own, you will effectively void your warranty, which will make it harder for you to hold the manufacturer accountable for future water heater problems. Therefore, no matter how minor a water heater issue might seem, you need to ensure that it is repaired by licensed professionals if you would like to keep your warranty valid for as long as the manufacturer provided.
DIY Water Heater Repair Is Dangerous
Another reason to avoid DIY water heater repair has to do with your safety and that of your family. For instance, repairing a water heater might involve dealing with hot water at extremely high pressure, which can leave you and your family with serious burns. Besides, a water heater service or repair job might involve handling electrical components, and therefore, it can expose you to the risk of electrical shocks and even electrocution. Furthermore, unless you are a professional plumber, a DIY water heater maintenance and repair job can lead to gas leaks, which might cause an explosion, which could leave you and your family with serious injuries. To prevent such eventualities, it is imperative for you to ensure that all your water heater issues are addressed by a professional plumber. Professionals deal with water heaters almost every day, and they know what they need to do in every water heater situation. Therefore, it will be much easier for them to diagnose and repair water heater issues without putting anyone at the risk of getting hurt.
You Could Cause Further Water Heater Damages
Water heaters are quite complex appliances. They have many interrelated parts that work together to ensure that your house has a constant supply of hot water. Therefore, when it is malfunctioning, it can be difficult for you to determine what the underlying cause of the issue at hand might be. Unfortunately, this means that trying to repair it on your own could lead to mistakes that could later cost you a significant amount of money to fix. On the other hand, professionals know that every successful water heater repair begins with a correct diagnosis. Therefore, they invest in advanced diagnostic tools and are skilled enough to ensure that any water heater issue is easily and accurately diagnosed. As such, calling a professional plumber will ensure that the underlying cause of your current water heater is identified and isolated to make sure that it is fixed without tampering with other components of your water heater.
You Could Breach the Terms of Your Home Insurance
If you have home insurance, then your insurance should protect you against financial losses in the event of property damages that can be too expensive for you to repair. For instance, if your house accidentally catches fire, your home insurance might compensate you. However, as the homeowner, your home insurance policy will put some responsibilities on you. For instance, you will be required to ensure that all appliances that can put your home in danger are serviced and repaired by a licensed professional. Since your water heater is most likely powered by natural gas and propane, it is in this category of risky appliances, and therefore, you need to ensure that all water heater repairs are done by a licensed plumber. If you decide to repair your water heater on your own, you will effectively breach the terms of your home insurance policy, and therefore, in the unfortunate event of future property damages associated with water heater issues, it will be very difficult for you to pursue your insurance for compensation.
The Bottom Line
Overall, it is apparent that when you have a water heater problem in your Irving, TX home, you should never consider fixing it on your own. This is because DIY water heater repairs are dangerous, and they can leave you with serious injuries. Besides, repairing your water heater on your own can void your warranties and put you at loggerheads with your home insurance. Therefore, you need to ensure that all your water heater repairs are done by a professional plumber. If you are looking for a reliable plumber providing professional water heater repair services in or around Irving, TX, Tioga Plumbing & Electric is an excellent choice. We have been repairing water heaters for a long time, and we are a household name in our community. Contact us today for more information about our company and services.
Photo By marketlan at Shutterstock