Why You Should Call Your Local Plumber For All Your Water Heater Problems

Few frustrating situations can be compared to you having a hot shower in the morning and then all of sudden the water becomes cold. This points to one thing; your water heater has broken down and needs repairs unless you are content with the long and uncomfortable cold morning showers.

Water heaters are complicated systems, and you should not try and showcase your DIY enthusiasm with a broken down heater.

You need to call the experts and let them diagnose the problem and then give you a way forward.

However, the role of these experts extends to more than the repairs as they are also needed to replace old systems and install new ones.

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3 Times When You Should Call A Professional

Plumbing work can be simple and straightforward. After all, pipes have no moving parts, so when something like a blockage happens, it is easy to figure out, and the techniques for dealing with it are far from complicated.

However, there are times when a plumbing issue is best handled by professionals. But when are those exactly?

Here are three situations where you should contact a reliable plumber to fix the problem for you.

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How To Deal With A Leaking Water Heater

A plumber repairing a water heater

Is your water heater leaking? If so, you have come to the right place. A water heater can leak due to many problems – starting from a loose valve to a corroded water tank.

If you find water pooling near the heater or dripping from the tank or pipes, there are many things to do to stop the leak. This article provides information on how to deal with a leaking water heater.

Shut Off the Water Supply

The first step to deal with a leaking water heater is to turn off the water supply to the tank.

The heater should have a shut-off valve on the cold inlet pipes. If the tank has a ball-type valve, you need to turn the handle of the valve 180 degrees.

On the other hand, if the tank has a gate-type valve, turn the wheel clockwise as far as you could. If the valve is broken or rusty, you can turn off the water supply to your home.

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How Do You Know When Your Water Heater Needs To Be Repaired Or Replaced?

A nice hot shower is often something most people take for granted. You come home from a long day, you turn the faucet on, and you get to relax as the warm water washes away the stresses of the day. But what if that warm water never comes? All too often we don’t think about our water heater until it’s too late, and knowing what signs to look out for can tell you just when it’s time for your water heater to be repaired or replaced.

Your water heater isn’t used for your shower alone. Doing the dishes and laundry may be disrupted, and something as simple as washing your hands or brushing your teeth can become quite uncomfortable. A faulty water heater is a huge inconvenience, but there are a few things you can watch out for to stay on top of your water heater’s need for repair or replacement:

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Do-It-Yourself Tips To Keep Your Hot Water Heater Working Well

A water heater can last for a very long time if properly cared for and maintained. If ignored, then it’s going to break down sooner than expected. The last thing you want is to find yourself with no hot water during your morning shower. Here is a simple maintenance task you can complete at home that is guaranteed to improve the lifespan of your water heater.

a well maintained water heater

Flushing The Water Tank

Experts suggest flushing your hot water heater tank once every 1 to 3 years. It’s always best to take the safe route and flush the tank on an annual basis. It’s extremely simple and takes only a few minutes of your time.

The point of flushing the tank is to remove any unwanted sediment build-up that has occurred inside of the tank. If ignored, that sediment can eventually clog water lines and even lead to leaks. It also reduces the overall efficiency of the tank, which results in increased energy prices. The simple act of flushing the tank solves both of these problems.

How To Flush Your Water Heater Tank

To accomplish this, start by turning off the electricity to the water heater or the gas if it is a gas heater.

Next, shut down the cold water that flows into the heater. Take a standard garden hose and connect it to the outgoing drain valve. The end of the hose should be outside of the home in an area that won’t be harmed by hot water.

Open the pressure relief valve and the drain valve. Wait a few moments as the tank drains completely. After all of the water has drained from the tank you can close the drain valve and disconnect the hose. Close the pressure relief valve. Now walk around the house and turn on each tap with hot water. Turn on the cold water flowing into the tank. Return to the taps one at a time and turn them off as water begins to flow.

Finally, after all spigots are turned off, return power to the tank.

Check the Integrity of the Pressure Valve

Any time you are flushing the tank is also a great time to check the integrity of the pressure valve. All tanks have a temperature and pressure valve that functions as a safety mechanism. You can check this valve while flushing the tank after you turned off the electricity or gas to the heater as well as the cold water input.

After shutting off the cold water you should place a bucket directly beneath the pressure relief valve. There will be a trip lever nearby. Pull the lever and you should see water, air, and possibly vapor exit from the valve. This is a sign that the valve is working properly. You can now continue with flushing the tank. If the valve is not working, then you should still continue with flushing the tank, but then replace the valve before restoring power and cold water input.

Flushing a tank and checking the valve shouldn’t take any longer than thirty minutes. Albeit, you should expect it to take slightly longer if you need to physically replace the valve.

These simple maintenance steps can add many years to the lifespan of your water heater.

Want a Plumber to Maintain Your Water Heater?

A plumber working on a water heater

For those who would rather higher a professional plumber to do all of this water heater maintenance work rather than taking the “do-it-yourself” route, we offer this service. Simply call us or fill out the form on the contact page. We have a network of plumbers in your area who would be happy to help you at an affordable rate.

Water Heater Problems And Their Causes

Water heaters play a big role in your home. They help satisfy all your hot water needs. Nevertheless, these products attract a few common issues no matter the brand, such as; leaks, no hot water, or not enough hot water.

The fact of the matter is that almost everyone has encountered these problems at one time or another.

Below are causes of common problems and ways to take preventive measures for the costly repairs.

Hot Water Heater Leaks

Leakages are the most common problem people experience. A person will usually notice there is a leak when there is a puddle of water around the bottom of the water heater tank. The problem often leads back to the reservoir itself. This is usually due to a crack in the internal tank. In this case, replacement is paramount.

The problem is mainly caused by the accumulation of water minerals. What does this mean? Well, it simply means that over time, water minerals accumulate and reacts with the steal. In the long run, it will cause corrosion. Therefore, when you notice a leak, it is paramount to call an expert plumber. The plumber will advise you on the best way forward.

It is not necessary to replace the whole unit though; the plumber may perform few repairs if the problem originates from the top. This kind of leak occurs if the plumbing part fails.

No Hot Water Or Not Enough Hot Water

Other common water heater repair issues can either be no hot water or not enough hot water.

No Hot Water…

If your issue is no hot water, then the problem may be the pilot light if you are using a gas heater. The good news is that you can turn on the pilot light yourself. Nonetheless, if you haven’t done this in the past or have no idea how to do it, then it is wise to call an expert.

If you are using an electric tank and you do not have hot water, it is wise to check your circuit breaker to see if it has tripped. If the breaker has not tripped, call a professional.

Not Enough Hot Water…

If the system is not heating water as needed, and there aren’t any leakages, then flushing the tank may be the best way forward so that mineral deposits are not reducing the system’s efficiency. Mineral buildup generally causes the problem. As time passes, minerals build-up occurs, which reduces the amount of hot water the system produces.

Summary

These are few common issues that people with either gas and electric water heaters may experience. If your problem is beyond the above issues, it is wise to call a plumber near you to fix your hot water heater. Do not even consider doing any repairs if you do not know what you are doing.

Always call a professional plumbing service near you on Long Island if you experience a problem with your heater. At times all you need is a quick water heater repair job.

New Hot Water Heater Installations

Hot water heaters are one fixture in the home that many homeowners don’t realize may need replacing until it’s too late. A hot water heater works each time you use hot water to bathe, wash dishes, clean, wash your hands, or use any type of water that isn’t tap cold, and just how often you use your hot water heater probably won’t become apparent without consciously thinking about it until it breaks. At Plumbing Emergency Rescue, our professionals can help to keep your hot water heater running efficiently throughout the course of its lifespan, but should that lifespan run up, we can also perform new installations. Continue reading →

How To Prevent Costly Hot Water Heater Repairs

In most cases, hot water heater problems become apparent with little or no warning. You might notice some dripping or even puddling close to your hot water heater or hear strange gurgling and popping noises inside the tank. You might even notice that you are not getting any hot water out of the tap when turning it on. Despite the fact that you can contact your local gas company to solve certain problems such as the gas supply to your hot water heater or the burner on the hot water heater, you’re pretty much on your own with other problems.

Having some knowledge of how a hot water heater operates and being able to troubleshoot potential problems can go a long way to saving you and other homeowner’s a great deal of money in costly hot water heater repairs. However, for more difficult issues or problems that you are not skilled enough to deal with, we encourage that you contact Plumbing Emergency Rescue and have one of our technicians evaluate your situation. We know what to look for and how to correct these problems quickly and efficiently. Continue reading →

Electric vs. Gas Hot Water Heaters

When it is time to replace a hot water heater, the homeowner has a choice of installing an electric or gas appliance. In most instances, their focus is on the price of the appliance rather than looking at more important issues such as comparing the cost of repairs or determining which is more energy-efficient. Given the fact that most residential structures have a sufficient supply of electricity and natural gas, the competition between the two energy sources oftentimes becomes very one-sided.

When you compare the cost of the energy necessary to generating a gallon of hot water, electricity is more costly than using natural or propane gas. The assumption here is that the homeowner would be better off installing a gas hot water heater rather than an electric one. However, regardless of the type that you decide on, Plumbing Emergency Rescue is skilled at dealing with preventative maintenance and repairs on either one. In either case, there are certain factors that need to be considered. Continue reading →

How To Prevent A Plumbing Emergency With Your Hot Water Heater (Boiler)

Your hot water heater or boiler can make it so you have hot water at any time, whether you’re looking to wind down with a hot shower after a long day or simply keep your hands clean while going about your daily business. However, when a hot water heater breaks, you’re suddenly left without the hot water you need, and we at Plumbing Emergency Rescue know how much of an inconvenience that can be. There are ways that you can prevent a hot water heater emergency in your Long Island area home, and we feel that this is important information to know for all of our regional customers. Continue reading →