When your showers feel lukewarm or downright chilly despite maxing out the heat, your water heater may need a closer inspection. In Furlong Township, hard water and other conditions can strain your water heater, causing inconsistent temperatures, leaks, and cloudy water. Understand these common water heater issues to know when to call Chud Cooling and Heating for expert water heater repair in Furlong Township.
How Water Heaters Work (and Why Problems Occur)
Water heaters provide hot water to fixtures and appliances connected to your home’s plumbing system, such as showers, laundry machines, and sink faucets. Water heaters come in two main types:
- Tank water heaters: Utilize electric heating elements or a gas burner to heat water in a tank ranging from 30 to 80 gallons. Water remains in the tank until a fixture needs hot water.
- Tankless water heaters: Also called on-demand systems, tankless water heaters heat water as it flows through the unit using either gas or electricity.
These water heater types often have similar components in addition to parts specific to their operation. Depending on the type of heater, several sources may be responsible for common water heater problems:
- Worn-out components or an aging system
- Sediment buildup
- Corrosion
- Pressure or temperature fluctuations
- High hot water demand
- Poor tank insulation
- Clogged pipes
Top 5 Common Water Heater Problems
Water heater problems may start small and subtly, but ignoring these issues allows them to escalate, potentially causing water damage, wasted energy, safety hazards, and other concerns. Discover the most common water heater issues that homeowners typically encounter.
No Hot Water
When your hot water isn’t working and your showers run cold, it’s often the first and most obvious signal that something is wrong with your water heater. In electric models, faulty heating elements, thermostats, and other components may prevent the unit from heating properly. They can also trip the circuit breaker, cutting off power to the water heater altogether. In gas water heaters, malfunctioning ignition systems and gas supply components, such as thermocouples or pilot control valves, may also prevent the pilot light from lighting or staying on.
Leaking Tank or Connections
Water pooling around your unit or dripping from connections and valves may indicate a leaking water heater. Leaks around connections are often fixable, but water pooling beneath the heater typically indicates a deteriorating tank with corrosion or cracks. These leaks may begin slowly but can cause mold, water damage, and safety hazards if unaddressed.
Rust-colored Water
Rust-tinted water from your faucets indicates corrosion in your plumbing system, including within the water heater. Traditional water heaters have an anode rod that protects the tank lining from corrosion, but corrosion within the tank may cause rust to contaminate and discolor your water when the anode inevitably deteriorates.
Unusual Noises
Rumbling, popping, or other strange noises from water heaters are signs of mineral sediment buildup on the tank bottom or around the heating elements. When the heater cycles on, the sediment disrupts normal heating and pressure. Steam bubbles force their way through this layer, causing mini-explosions, which can stress and damage the tank, lower efficiency, and shorten the heater’s operating life.
Inconsistent Water Temperature
If your water fluctuates between hot and cold without warning, the problem may be caused by a faulty thermostat or scale and sediment buildup, resulting in uneven heating. Damaged pressure regulators may also disrupt normal water pressure and flow. If multiple household members use hot water simultaneously, the tank may be unable to meet the demand and require an extended period to replenish its hot water supply. In tankless models, flow sensor malfunctions or installation issues can also cause temperature swings.
Signs Your Water Heater Needs Professional Attention
Water heater problems aren’t always obvious, but paying attention to minor or gradual shifts in your unit’s performance can help you know when it needs professional attention. Call a licensed plumber for assistance and prevent larger problems by watching for these signs your water heater needs repair:
- Hot water runs out quickly or takes longer to replenish
- Puddles or moisture at the base of the unit
- Drop in hot water pressure
- Frequent breaker trips
- Gas odors
- High energy bills
- Error codes or indicator lights
When to Repair vs. Replace Your Water Heater
Choosing between repair and replacement depends on the age, condition, and type of problem with your unit. A timely repair can extend your heater’s life, but replacement may offer better efficiency and long-term value.
Repair makes sense when the issue is isolated to an easily fixed or replaced component, such as a thermostat or connection leak. When combined with proper maintenance, small repairs can restore your system’s performance and keep it running efficiently.
More significant concerns may call for replacement, such as:
- A leaking or rusted tank
- Repeated or increasingly costly repairs that cost about half the price of a replacement
- Your hot water demand has outgrown your current unit’s capacity
- You’re interested in upgrading to a more efficient water heater
- The system is 10 to 12 years old or older
How to Prevent Water Heater Problems with Routine Maintenance
Routine water heater maintenance helps prevent breakdowns and maximize the system’s lifespan. Both homeowners and professionals have a role to play in maintaining system performance. Try these upkeep tips between professional services:
- Set the temperature to about 120 degrees
- Inspect the anode rod periodically and replace it when it’s nearly worn out
- Check for corrosion, leaks, or other damage around the tank and connections
- Space hot water usage throughout the day
Schedule a professional inspection annually to ensure overall system performance. A technician can identify wear, flush the tank, inspect gas supply components, and complete other expert tasks to optimize energy efficiency and safety.
Contact Chud for Expert Water Heater Services Near You
Serving homeowners in Furlong Township and other surrounding neighborhoods, our local water heater services safeguard your system against leaks, corrosion, and other issues. Prevent water heater problems before they escalate. Contact us at Chud Cooling and Heating today for professional water heater repair near you.