Water Dripping From The Top

Water Leaking From The Bottom

Leaking Pipes

If you notice water around the water heater or dripping from the water heater, you’ve got a leaking water heater. If the water is leaking from the bottom of your water heater, this usually means there is a crack in the internal tank and you will need a water heater replacement.

Sometimes a water heater can develop a leak from the top, this is usually caused by a fitting or a plumbing part that has malfunctioned. In this case, the water heater can most often be repaired.

Not able to enjoy a steaming hot bath any more or is there not enough hot water to last a full shower? Running out of hot water is never any fun and it can be caused by a few different issues.

On a gas water heater, the gas control valve (thermostat) could be broken. For an electric water heater, one of the electric elements or thermostats could have burned out.

The dip tube inside the water heater could be bad, causing a reduced flow of hot water through your pipes.

If your water heater is old (8+ years) or if you live in an area with hard water your water heater could be full of sediment. This will reduce the amount of hot water a water heater can make.

If you are new to the residence the tank may be undersized for your needs or smaller than the water heater in your previous home.

Your hot water needs / habits may have increased over time.

There could be Sediment buildup.

Generally as a water heater ages and nears the end of it’s useful life, it will produce less and less hot water.

Most often this is caused by sediment building up inside the tank. Sediment build-up will decrease the amount of hot water your water heater can produce. Usually the water heater will be noisy or tend to make a loud rumbling sound if sediment is the problem.

Sometimes the sediment can be flushed out of the water heater to fix the problem, sometimes it can not and replacing the water heater may be the only solution.

Malfunctioning Parts

A faulty or bad part can also be the source of not enough hot water. Over time or due to a manufacturing error a part can wear out, but most often they can easily be replaced to get your water heater working at top efficiency again.

A highly trained Water Heaters Only, Inc. technician can diagnose the problem with your water heater and let you know exactly what the solution is. Most often we have the parts available to fix or replace your water heater right away.

Having a noisy water heater is mostly a nuisance, but it could also mean a problem is present. As water heaters age sediment accumulates at the bottom of the tank, this is especially true if the water heater has not been drained on a regular basis. The noise described as “rumbling” usually is the sound of expanding heated water escaping from sediment at the bottom of a tank. This situation is not dangerous, but it is a sign that the water heater has lost much of it’s efficiency.

As sediment builds up, more and more heat is lost up the chimney and less heat gets into your water. The overheating of the bottom of the tank also shortens the life of the tank and can lead to the failure of the water heater. Certain areas are notorious for “bad” water and in these areas flushing the water heater can extend it’s life and save on energy costs. However once sediment is allowed to build up and solidify (It is similar to coral) it can be almost impossible to remove from residential model heaters. To prevent this solidification a homeowner can flush the water heater periodically. If the sediment can be flushed out,  it should fix the problem. If not it may be time to replace your water heater.

A high pitched noise from your water heater can be the result of high incoming water pressure. This can be a problem and should be diagnosed and repaired as quickly as possible. Water heaters are designed with a temperature / pressure relief safety valve. This valve is designed to open and release water when the temperature is too high or if there is an excess build up of pressure inside the tank. If for some reason this valve fails to open and the water heater is over pressurized this should be addressed. Long term excess pressure in the water heater or plumbing system can lead to leaks, cracks and in very rare cases a burst water heater.

There sure are! Water Doctor of Washington is proud to partner with Salal Credit Union. Give us a call for more information!