Does Your Water Heater Need to Be Repaired?

If your water heater isn’t getting as hot as you would like or the hot water isn’t lasting as long as you think it should, it can be tempting to ignore the problem and just deal with the poor hot water supply. After all, replacing your water heater is a big expense. Many people would rather put the problem out of their mind than deal with the trouble and expense of fixing it.

However, a water heater problem isn’t always a major expense. You may be able to fix the problem with a simple repair rather than replacing the water heater. If you ignore the problem, though, it is likely to get worse. Leaving the problem unattended can cause it to escalate until you have no choice but to replace the water heater.

If you are seeing some signs that your water heater isn’t running as well as it should, take note. You can avoid bigger problems and expenses by tackling these issues right away. Here are some signs that your water heater needs to be repaired.

You Aren’t Getting Any Hot Water

If you aren’t getting any hot water from your water heater, this is a pretty clear and obvious sign that there is a problem. However, a lack of hot water doesn’t always spell disaster; this can actually be a pretty simple fix. If your water heater is not producing any hot water at all, the first thing that you should do is check the circuit breaker or fuse box. The odds are good that a circuit breaker has flipped, and the reason that your water heater isn’t producing hot water is that it isn’t getting any power. By simply flipping the circuit breaker back to where it belongs, your problem can be solved.

Another possible cause of this problem is the high temperature limit switch. Sometimes this switch gets tripped, and all you need to do to fix the problem is to reset the switch.

If the circuit breaker or fuse box and the high temperature limit switch are not tripped, then there are a couple of other potential culprits. Take a look at the water heater’s upper thermostat and heating element. These items may need to be replaced.

You Aren’t Getting Enough Hot Water

Maybe you are getting some hot water, but it runs out more quickly than it should. If you can only get one shower in before the hot water runs out, your water heater needs some TLC. First, try turning up the temperature on the thermostat on the water heater. If that doesn’t solve the problem, the thermostat on the water heater may need to be replaced. The dip tube may need to be replaced, as well.

It is also possible that you aren’t getting enough hot water because sediment has accumulated in the water heater tank. If this is the case, the water heater will need to be drained and cleaned out.

If none of these items solves the hot water shortage, it could be that you just need a water heater with a larger tank. If you have more people living in your home or you have teenagers who are taking long showers, you may need to consider upgrading to a bigger tank.

If your water heater isn’t providing you with the nice, hot shower that you need in the morning, call Scott English Plumbing. We can repair your current water heater or help you select and install a new one that will better meet your needs. Call Scott English Plumbing for an appointment today.