Got questions about your water heater or plumbing? Call us today for answers and great advice in Tallahassee, Florida, and Bainbridge, Georgia!
Has your water heater stopped working? Our expert plumbers in Tallahassee, FL, can tell you why after a quick inspection to uncover your water heater’s issues. In the meantime, you could look for some of the clues we’ve listed below to figure out why there’s a water heater malfunction and when to call for help.
A Lack of Fuel or Power Affects Your Water Heater
If the water heater stopped working suddenly, one common cause that people overlook is a lack of power or fuel.
Watch for Electric Water Heater Issues
Any interruption to the power supply for your appliance will stop it from delivering hot water. If your electric water heater suddenly cuts the hot water supply, first check the electrical outlet.
Next, check your home’s electric box. Is one of the circuit breakers tripped? Reset the breaker.
Understanding Gas Water Heater Issues
A natural gas water heater needs fuel to operate. If your water heater stops working and you have a gas supply line from the gas company, make sure the valve is open.
Do you have your own propane tank? Check that the tank has an adequate supply of natural gas to operate the appliance. Then, if you know how to check the pilot light, make sure it’s lit, as an extinguished pilot light cannot heat anything.
If your appliance has a faulty gas valve, you may end up with a broken water heater and a dangerous gas leak. Call for a plumber’s help immediately.
You Have an Improperly-Sized Water Heater
Is your water heater too small to deliver hot water to everyone in the household at the same time? That’s a common reason to end up with cold water.
You may simply need to install a new water heater. A greater capacity to produce enough hot water could instantly solve the problem.
Mineral and Sediment Buildup Can Cause Issues
Has the water heater stopped working well and then gradually petered out? A buildup of minerals and sediment could be blocking the unit’s heating element from warming up the water.
Sediment often causes knocking or banging inside the tank, and if you don’t flush it, it could mean a permanently broken down water heater. Odd odors in your hot water could also indicate a buildup of sediment and bacteria.
Water heater technicians like Cooper’s Plumbing & Air will flush the water heater to remove buildup from minerals and sediment. We do this during normal maintenance each year.
Failed Tank, Failed Appliance
Any amount of tank leakage can leave your water heater unable to operate, but a major leak leaves the tank with no water to heat at all. Rust and corrosion inside the unit might cause the leak. You might not be able to see the corrosion or mineral buildup on the interior parts of the water heater, but this damage easily causes the unit to stop functioning.
If you notice water on the floor around the appliance, a leak is likely to blame. Shut down the power to the unit and call our team for repair right away.
The anode rod is the part of the water heater designed to protect it from rust and corrosion. Should your tank need a new anode rod, our repair technicians can simply replace it for you.
Bad Thermostats Lead To Water Heater Shutdowns
Improper water temperature regulation can explain why a water heater stopped working, but several thermostat issues are possible. For example, the appliance may not heat up the water because it’s measuring the temperature incorrectly. Water heaters also have temperature pressure valves that go wrong.
As the water inside the tank heats up, it naturally expands. The unit uses the pressure valve to release water from the tank before the pressure becomes too high – unless there’s a faulty valve and the water heater has to shut down to protect itself and your home. Our repair technicians can replace the faulty pressure valve to return the appliance to normal.
You Need New Parts for the Water Heater
The most common cause of a failing water heater is a faulty part. If the symptoms aren’t obvious, our team measures the performance of the parts in your appliance to determine which one is failing and repair it.
For instance, a faulty heating element in an electric water heater might not have the voltage needed to operate properly. Measuring the status of the heating element is easy with digital multimeters, which our repair technicians carry with them.
In a gas water heater, you might need to replace a damaged burner assembly. The burner assembly has quite a few different parts, each of which must operate properly to create hot water. Depending on the damage, our repair technicians might need to replace the entire assembly or an individual component.
How Regular Maintenance Keeps Your Water Heater Running
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average cost of water heating is about 18% of a home’s total energy bill. Inefficient appliances will cost more to operate, so when our professionals perform regular maintenance and repairs, the aim is always to keep your water heater system running efficiently. Each step our technicians take during a repair or replacement reduces the heater’s operational costs.
This diligent upkeep also keeps the unit in top condition, helping you avoid an expensive emergency water heater breakdown.
Cooper’s Plumbing & Air Is Ready To Fix Your Water Heater
Has your trusty water heater stopped working? You need a trustworthy team to fix the issue and give your family back its reliable hot water supply. Our professional repair technicians will arrive on time to solve the problem, whether you have a water heater leak, a pilot light issue, or a simple fuse replacement for us to complete.
For service from Cooper’s Plumbing & Air from Tallahassee, Florida, to Bainbridge, Georgia, call us today at (229) 246-2539 or (866) 464-7132.