DIY Electric & Gas Water Heaters Repair
You probably don’t think about your water heater until a cold shower or a telltale puddle suggests you need a new one. Before you shell out 0 or 0 for a storage-tank heater or up to ,200 for a more-efficient tankless model, see whether the old water heater can be fixed.
Hot Water Heater Repair Guide
Water Leaking
If water is leaking from the base of your water heater, it could be coming from the drain valve. You can try to tighten the valve located at the base of the tank. If it is defective, replace it. For gas water heater, check if the vent is obstructed. Turn off the water heater and clean the flue if you find an obstruction. For electric hot water heaters, leak sometimes come from the heating element gaskets. Before you drain the water from the heater to replace the gasket, turn off the power and close the water supply.
Water is Not Hot
Improper heating is another common issue for water heaters. If you are using a gas hot water heater and repairs involves handling the gas connections should be done by the local gas utility company or a qualified and licensed plumber.
There may be violation of local regulations and building codes if the work done on natural gas connections are done by an untrained and unlicensed person.
For an electric model, the first thing to check is the circuit breaker. If it’s tripped, no power is getting to the heater. Just reset the breaker.
Electric units have 2 thermostat (upper and lower) and heating element. Reset the upper thermostat first. If this doesn’t solve the problem, use an analog or digital multimeter to make sure power is getting to the upper heating element. If not, replace the thermostat after turning off all power to the appliance, shutting off the water supply, and draining the tank.
It’s also possible that the element itself is defective. It is very easy to replace it. Repeat the whole process with the lower thermostat and heating element if the problem is still not solved.
Hot Water Supply is Reduced
If your heater is not putting out enough hot water and there are no leaks, drain the tank to make sure mineral deposits are not the cause. To do this, turn off the electricity or gas. Turn off the inlet valve and attach a hose to the drain valve to drain the water outside. Open the drain valve and open a hot water faucet anywhere in your house to allow air in. When all of the water has drained, turn the valve to the cold water off and on continuously at the water tank until the drain water is clear. Close the drain valve, refill the tank and turn the electricity or gas back on.
Water is Not Hot Enough
If the water is not hot enough on your gas water heater, make sure the pilot light is lit. If not, follow the manufacturer’s directions to relight it. Also try turning up the thermostat. If you have an electric water heater, just turn the thermostat to a higher temperature
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Tags: electric hot water heater, gas hot water heater, water heater repair