What to Expect from Water Heater Repair Services

While an ice-cold shower will definitely wake you up in the morning, there are few things more unpleasant than stepping into the shower and realizing you have no hot water. Flush away water heater woes by identifying the problem and hiring a professional for water heater repair or replacement if needed.

Common water heater problems

The way you handle your water heater repairs depends on whether you have an electric or gas water heater. Common water heater issues include smelly water, water not maintaining a consistent temperature and noises coming from the water heater. Learn some troubleshooting tips for each problem.

Smelly water

When bacteria invades your water, it emits a rotten egg smell. Flushing your tank, an easy DIY water heater repair, generally solves this issue. Before flushing, turn off the gas or electricity to your water heater. After flushing, fill the water heater with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, let it sit for a couple hours, then flush the tank again with clean water.

If you don’t feel comfortable going the DIY route or the smell still lingers after flushing your water heater, then call a licensed plumber for help.

Water not heating up

For an easy water heater fix, make sure your thermostat is set to the right temperature. If the water is frigid, your heating element could be broken. Replace the heating element or call a professional to do so for you.

On a gas water heater, ensure the gas is turned on. Check to see if your pilot light has gone out. If so, follow the instructions on your tank or in the owner’s manual to relight it. If the pilot light keeps going out, the issue could be with a faulty thermocouple. Call a plumbing technician to diagnose the problem and replace the thermocouple on your water heater if needed.

For an electric water heater, make sure it’s turned on and that your circuit breaker didn’t trip. Press the reset button. If nothing happens, call a licensed plumber for a water heater repair. Sediment buildup causes temperature and water pressure inconsistencies. Drain and flush your water heater at least once a year to stymie sediment buildup.

Noisy water heater

The heating element burning sediment at the bottom of a water heater tank causes noises. Draining and flushing your water heater helps. A faulty heating element may become noisy and need to be replaced. If that’s the case, contact a plumbing technician to replace the heating element.

Water heater repair or replacement

According to Home Advisor, homeowners pay an average of $500 on water heater repairs, with most water heater repair costs falling between $203 to $800. Of course, there are times when a water heater replacement is the better option. Typically, any leak means it’s time to replace your water heater. Consider the age of your water heater when deciding to repair or replace. Most storage tank water heaters last 10 to 15 years. If your water heater is near that age, it may be best to invest in a new one rather than paying for repairs.

Call a CroppMetcalfe 5-Star Plumbing Technician if you need help with your water heater.