Water Heater Repair at Home

The large tank in your basement that ensures you have luxurious heated running water are usually extremely reliable. Depending on the style and model of heater that you have, they can usually go for decades without problems. However, problems can and do occur on occasion and you may need water heater repair services from a professional in your area. 

Some of the problems that can require water heater repair include lack of hot water, less hot water than usual, or hot water running out sooner, water that is rust colored or smells like rotten eggs, a heater that makes a rumbling or popping noise, a heater that has a high pitched whining noise, or any types of leaks in and around the heater. These water heater repair jobs are best performed by an expert in these matters. There are a number of companies in your area that employ experienced and educated professionals that can help with water heater repair. 

However, there are a number of steps that you can perform to troubleshoot a problem before putting an expensive repair technician on the clock. Take the time to walk through a few of these steps and save yourself some time and money on water heater repair. Always be sure to turn off the power to the tank and adjust the gas flame to "pilot" setting while ensuring that the water supply has been completely shut off. 

If you are experiencing a problem in which absolutely no hot water is being produced at all, the problem may be fairly straightforward. You could be dealing with a gas pilot that is faulty, a thermocouple that is not working properly, a control valve that is faulty, a thermostat that is broken, or an upper heating element electricity problem. Any of these can be relatively simple to replace or fix if needed. Some of the simple water heater repairs you can do at home include checking the gas flame pilot operation. You can also tighten thermocouplers and thermostats or replace control valves. 

If you are experiencing a problem in which hot water is being produced, but it is not enough to meet the needs of your shower or family, there could be several other things that are wrong.
The unit tank may not be big enough. A dip tube might be broken and allowing hot and cold water to mix in the tank. There could be issues with the gas supply, heating element, thermostat, or hot water connectors. Any of these problems are also relatively simple to fix. If you determine that you are running out of hot water too early, then the water heater repair may include installation of an entirely new unit.