Use our troubleshooting tips to help before calling the professionals.

Calling a certified repair service is the best, and safest, way of handling any problems with your hot water heater. But, you can use the following tips and advice to help troubleshoot any problems before making that call. Or, at least be much more aware of how your system works when the repair service professionals do arrive.

Troubleshooting tips for a broken hot water heater.

Figuring out what type of hot water heater you have

• Natural gas or electricity account for about 80% of hot water heaters.
• Look for a power supply cable that runs to your water heater and/or a label for your water heater in your breaker box. If you see either of these items, you most likely have an electric water heater.
• If you can’t locate these items, you most likely have a natural gas powered water heater. However, it’s best to wait until a professional repair service determines this because you could have an unusual water heater that requires specific expertise.

Most common hot water heater problems

• Did your hot water heater just suddenly shut down for no reason? First, check the circuit breaker. It might be something as easy to fix as a tripped switch.
• Is your water too hot or too cold? This indicates that it’s still being heated to some degree and could point to issues with your thermostat. We recommend you call a repair service as you may need to have the vents around your unit cleaned.
• Do you frequently have an inadequate supply of hot water? This can indicate that the hot water tank is probably too small to meet the demands of your household. If so, it’s smart to upgrade to a larger model. However, if your model should to be able to meet your needs, then the problem may be a faulty heating element (if your model is electric).
• Is your hot water heater leaking? Immediately shut off both the water supply and electrical supply to your unit and call a professional repair service as soon as possible.
• Is the water yellow or rust colored coming out of faucets? This could mean that the inside of your hot water tank or pipes in your home are corroded. If this is the case, these items will need to be replaced.
• Does water coming from faucets smell bad? There could be bacterial infestation in your tank which requires having your tank cleaned and repaired.
• Is your hot water heater more noisy than normal? The problem might be sediment build-up at the bottom of the tank. Getting it cleaned should correct this issue.

Be safe!

• REMEMBER, both natural gas and electricity are highly dangerous! Natural gas leaks can cause explosions and electricity mixed with water can easily lead to shocks or worse.

Most hot water heater repairs require the attention of a certified professional but at least now you know what might be causing some of your hot water system issues before you call them.

If you require any hot water heater installation or repair services, our team of home service experts are here to help you, any time. Just give us a call!