How to Prevent Common Water Heater Problems

Hot water heaters don’t require a lot in terms of maintenance, but when they don’t work properly, it can cause huge inconveniences at home; like trying to wash dishes in cold water or not having enough hot water to take a shower!

Below, we’ve outlined some of the most common water heater problems we get calls about, and then go over solutions and ways that you can help prevent them! Solutions range from a little TLC from you to calling in a professional for Santa Cruz water heater repair or replacement.

Water Doesn’t Get Hot Enough

If you find that your water isn’t getting as hot as it used to or as hot as you need it to, there’s likely an issue with your water heater. Before you hire a professional, make sure that the temperature control switch is where it’s supposed to be. 120 degrees is the recommended setting, but it’s possible you have it higher or it got turned down. Sometimes just an accidental bump to the unit can throw settings off and make your water colder. If the temperature setting looks good, it’s perhaps time to call an expert.

No Hot Water

If you find yourself running out of hot water faster than you used to, your hot water heater is likely the culprit. It could be that you’ve increased the size of your household, or the fact that everyone’s been spending more time at home, but you need more hot water than what you’re getting. If that’s the case, it might be time for a Santa Cruz water heater replacement, or perhaps you just need water heater repair. Either way, we suggest calling in a professional plumber!

Leaky Water Heater

If you’ve discovered puddles of water or dried water marks around your hot water heater, call a plumber right away. Even a small leak in your water heater can quickly become a big problem.

How to Maintain Your Water Heater

Regular water heater maintenance every few months will do wonders for your appliance. It will make sure your hot water heater is running as efficiently as possible, help you stay ahead of repairs, and you’ll ultimately go longer without having to replace it! Below are some simple, routine maintenance items you can do to make sure your water heater stays in top-top shape:

• Maintain clearance: Most water heaters need about 2 feet of clearance on all sides (unless otherwise indicated in your owner’s manual) so make sure you don’t have boxes or clutter around your unit.
• Check the temperature settings: As noted above, 120 degrees is the recommended setting, but you’ll save about 5% in heating costs for every 10 degrees that you turn it down. Just make sure you have the setting where you want and/or need it to be!
• Test the temperature release valve: Discharge the valve 3 to 5 times, then keep an eye out for leaks in and around it. If you notice it leaking, call a plumber!
• Drain your water heater: You only need to drain about ¼ to ⅓ of the tank a few times a year to remove any built up sediment or other debris. Read our How to Drain Your Water Heater post for a full walkthrough on how you can do this yourself!

Water Heater Help in Santa Cruz!

If you’re worried about your water heater and have experienced any of the common water heater issues we went over, reach out to us at Rosenthal Plumbing! We’d be more than happy to inspect your water heater in Santa Cruz or the surrounding area and can even provide that routine maintenance we talked about if you’re unsure about tackling it yourself. Give us a call today!

Call Now for Water Heater Help!