Troubleshooting Hot Water Heater Problems

Water heater is a common home appliance that is used for supplying hot water constantly. All of us are aware of the fact that water heating consumes the most energy after all household activities. With the advancement of technology, many energy-efficient water heaters are now available in the market.

The most common energy saving water heaters are storage, tankless and solar ones. For outdoors, portable water heaters can be used. Though, the electronic configuration and source of fuel are different, the basic principle behind all water heaters is the same. In every water heater, normal cold water (usually tap water) is heated with the help of a heating system. The warm water is then collected via the hot water tap.

Each water heater has its own advantages and disadvantages. Like any other appliances, hot water heaters have certain problems. It is to be noted that water heater repair should be carried out only if you are familiar with the device. In case, you are planning to fix anything, first turn off the water heater, close the water intake and drain off the water. Following is a list of common problems of hot water heaters and tips on how to troubleshoot them.

No Hot Water: This may be caused due to a defect in the heating element and/or gas thermocouple. You can replace these components to troubleshoot the problem by following the manufacturer's guidelines.

Insufficient Hot water: Check the thermostat setting; adjust if it is set too low. Another cause may be due to a defect in the dip tube that will draw out cold water directly without heating. You can consult a professional to fix up this problem.

Too Hot or Too Cold water: This is caused due to changing of the thermostat setting frequently. Try adjusting the setting to the desired temperature of hot water.

Pilot Light Problem: Pilot light may go on and off frequently, try to relight the pilot light. If this doesn't work, call a serviceman to fix it up. The problem may be due to draft, defective thermocouple or dirt in the gas line that clogs the pilot line.

Smelly Hot Water: This problem is common with hot water heaters installed with magnesium anode rod. Smell in hot water may be due to presence of impurities, especially microorganisms like bacteria. Clean by flushing the water heater with chlorine water. To solve this problem, you can consider replacing an aluminum anode rod.

Noisy Water Heater: Noises can be due to contraction and expansion of metal equipments or scale formation inside the water heater. The latter case can be solved by flushing the water heater once per month.

Slow Hot Water Recovery: It can be due to sediment accumulation or problems in burner operation and air combustion.

Leaking Water Tank: It is a common problem, especially with old tanks due to corrosion or other reasons. The only solution is to replace a water tank.

Well! These are some common problems of hot water heaters. You can minimize the chances of water heater problems by opting for regular servicing, as per the manufacturer's guidelines. In order to avoid sediment accumulation, it is advisable to flush out the water heater regularly.