Are you having problems with your water heater? Instead of instantly installing a new one, see if you can fix the problem or if the issue is even the water heater. Problems with your water heater can run from something as simple as a bad thermostat to something as complex as an area you need to repipe.
No Water Coming From the Hot Water Tap
If you don’t have any water coming from your hot water tap at all, the most likely issue is that someone has accidentally shut the hot water valve off. Check the main valve coming from your water heater as well as all your faucets. If the valve is on but you still don’t have any water, make sure you have cold water and then change the valve coming off of the water heater as it is likely defective.
Water Isn’t Hot
If you happen to be experiencing other issues aside from a lack of hot water, move on to the section titled “repipe issues”.
Turn your hot water on and stand by the water heater. If you hear a click, shut the water off and wait about 20 minutes. Try the hot water again. If you still don’t have hot water, but you heard a “click”, change the heating element.
If you didn’t hear a click when you turned your hot water on and waited, the problem could be in your thermostat. Change the thermostat and try again.
Note that if you are changing anything on your water heater and it is electric, be sure to shut off the power before you do any work on the water heater. If you leave it on you could get hurt or damage other parts of your water heater.
Repipe Issues
Your water heater may be operating fine, but a repipe issue isn’t allowing it to keep up with the demand. If you happen to have old pipes in your home, they may have broken or cracked. If this happens with a hot water line, the water will run out of the broken or cracked pipe and the water heater won’t be able to keep up with the need for hot water. If you have any of the issues below and you are having a hard time getting hot water from your water heater, consider contacting a repiping specialist.
- Low water pressure
- Sound of running water when everything is shut off
- Leaky slab
- Discolored water
