When your water heater has a problem, you may think that you do a diy hot water heater repair. While it is true that you can fix some problems, more often than not, the problem with your hot water heater will need a professional plumber. Trying to do these plumbing repairs by yourself can put you at risk. Hot water heaters are high-voltage, and if you have a gas hot water heater, they have the potential to explode. Both types of hot water heaters can have extremely hot water in them.

Troubleshooting Your Hot Water Heater

There are ways that you can troubleshoot your hot water heater to see if the problem is something you can address. Remember to do this with safety in mind.

• Hot water issues. You will first want to check to ensure that you did not use all the hot water. In some cases, if you are using multiple appliances simultaneously or multiple showers are taken, your hot water here will not be able to keep up. If this is an issue that keeps happening frequently, you will want to upgrade your hot water heater. If you want to upgrade your hot water heater, you will need a professional plumber today to size what you need and to install it for you.
• Pilot light. In some cases, if you have a gas hot water heater, and have no hot water, the pilot light may have gone out. Check the light to see if it still on. If it has gone out, relight the flame and see if you start getting hot water again. If the pilot light does not come back on, you will need to call a plumber out to figure out the issue. Keep in mind that this part of your hot water heater is fed by gas, and if you do the wrong thing, you can cause gas to leak into your home or an explosion.
• Power. When you start having issues with your hot water heater, the first thing you will want to check is to make sure there is power going to the water heater. If you do not have power going to the hot water heater, you will want to check the circuit breaker and the fuses to see if there is an issue there. Once you have fixed the blown fuse or breaker, you will need to hit the hot water heater’s reset button. Wait 10 to 15 minutes to see if your hot water comes back on. If it is not, you should call a plumber.

Issues Where You Should Call a Plumber Instead of DIY

If you encounter any of the below problems, you are better off calling a plumber instead of doing a diy water heater.

• Leaking. If you see any water leaking from your water heater, you will want to either turn off the electrical supply or turn the hot water heater off at the heater. Cut off the main water supply to ensure that the leak stops. You will then want to call a plumber out immediately to address this issue. Be careful when you are near the hot water heater as this water may be very hot.
• Sounds. If you hear popping, creaking, or rumbling in your hot water heater, this is because sediment is building up. You can flush the tank yourself, but you may see this problem frequently. If this keeps happening, your hot water heater is likely to leak. It is best to call out a professional to ensure that this is done correctly.
• Water quality. If you see water and that is murky and has a reddish or orange color coming out your faucet, it may be an issue with your hot water heater. This water may also have an odd smell or metallic taste. This is caused by mineral deposits from your hot water heater or that the tank has become rusty inside. You will not want to diy water heater on this. You will want a professional to come out to address the situation to see if your water heater needs to be replaced.

If your water heater is down, troubleshooting and water heater repair can be difficult. It is always best to hire a plumber that knows what they are doing. They will be able to fix your heater safely. If you are having issues with your hot water heater, please call E Dennis today. They have years of experience in hot water heater repair and can help to ensure that your hot water heater is running as it should. If you need a hot water heater replacement, they will be able to do that for you.