No hot water? Strange noises? A leaky tank? If your water heater is acting up, you’re not alone. You might be asking, How can I fix and repair the most common water heater problems before calling a plumber?
To fix common water heater problems, check the power source or pilot light, adjust the thermostat, inspect for leaks, and flush sediment buildup. If issues persist, professional repair may be necessary.
If your water heater still isn’t working after a few basic checks, don’t risk a cold shower—or a bigger problem. Call Neighborhood at 320-227-8386 to speak with a licensed Central Minnesota plumbing expert. With decades of experience, I’ll help you figure out what’s going wrong and get your hot water flowing again quickly.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through some ways you can take control and solve these common problems.
Common Hot Water Heater Problems
Common Hot Water Heater Problems include: No Hot Water, Not Enough Hot Water, Water Too Hot, Dirty or Rusty Colored Water, and Smelly Hot Water. So whether you have experienced these kind of problems in the past or may experience them in the future, these tips should educate and empower you to fix them on your own.
No Hot Water
A couple things might fix this issue. First, make sure your unit has power. The circuit breaker might have tripped, or you might have blown a fuse. Reset the breaker or replace the fuse if necessary. Second, make sure your pilot light is lit. If the pilot light has gone out, you will need to relight it. You can replace a faulty pilot light yourself in gas water heaters. You can test heating elements using a multimeter to identify faults. If neither of these tips work, contact your technician.
Not Enough Hot Water
Hot water heaters produce less hot water as they get older. However, if you suddenly notice a substantial loss in hot water during normal use, an easy solution may be the answer. You may have a faulty thermostat. First test your thermostat. Adjust the thermostat on the water heater. Wait several hours and then test the water temperature from a faucet.
If that doesn’t fix the problem, check for a leak around your unit. Keep in mind that the average life expectancy of a water heater is about 8 to 12 years, so if your unit is older, it may be time to consider a replacement. Knowing the warranty details can help in deciding whether to repair or replace a water heater. If a water heater has frequent repairs and malfunctions, it is time to consider replacement. Damaged or corroded water heaters should not be repaired but replaced instead.
Not only can leaks require necessary Leak Repairs, but it could decrease your hot water flow as well. Water heater leaks are often caused by leaking valves and plumbing connections. You can fix leaks by tightening connections with a wrench. Internal leaks in a water heater can be difficult to detect and may cause slow heating. Finally, if your thermostat is working properly and there is no leak, try flushing your tank.
Sometimes, mineral buildup can prevent flow. Flushing should clean some of that deposit. If your water heater is leaking from the bottom, it may indicate sediment buildup or a faulty drain valve. If the tank is leaking, it likely needs to be replaced due to corrosion or damage. Condensation on a water heater can look like a leak but might not indicate a problem. If none of these tips help your problem, please call a plumbing professional.
Water is Too Hot
When the water is too hot, turn the thermostat down to a lower temperature first. Wait a few hours and then test the water on a faucet. If you hear boiling water sounds or hot water and steam shoot out of your faucets before turning them on, then your unit is not turning off once it reaches its set temperature. Too much hot water typically means one or both of the water heater’s thermostats are set too high. Thermostat adjustments can often resolve temperature issues.
Checking the temperature setting on your water heater thermostat is important for safety and efficiency. This could indicate faulty parts in your unit. If water is leaking from the temperature and pressure relief valve, it may mean that the thermostat is set too high. Noises coming from the water heater could mean that the water in the tank is boiling due to sediment build-up. Excessive sediment buildup in a water heater can cause noise and overheating. Contact your technician for a Hot Water Heater Repair or Replacement.
Dirty or Rusty Colored Water
If your hot water is discolored, dirty, or rusty this could indicate a hot water heater issue. Discolored or rusty water can indicate internal corrosion or bacteria contamination in the water heater. Try running cold water only. If the cold water is also discolored, then you probably don’t have a hot water heater issue. However, if only the hot water is discolored try flushing your tank. When brown, yellow, or red-tinted water flows from faucets, the water heater tank may be internally corroded.
Sediment in your tank can discolor your water. If some unsightly sediment is contained in your unit, flushing your tank should push it out and your water color should be back to normal. Additionally, noises from a water heater can indicate sediment build-up at the bottom of the tank, which can also be resolved by flushing.
To flush your tank, first turn off the power and or gas supply. You should always turn off the power before starting any repairs on the water heater. To check if the power is off, use a non-contact voltage tester before making repairs.
Water heaters are meant to be flushed about once a year to prevent sediment buildup. Flushing the water heater can help remove sediment build-up and fix issues like strange noises. When replacing heating elements, ensure the wattage matches the old ones. Regularly checking the pressure relief valve helps ensure it functions correctly and prevents overpressure in the tank.
Second, connect a garden hose to the bottom of your unit and lead it outside or into a drain.
Third, shut of the inlet water valves.
Fourth, open the drain valve (you can also turn on the hot water on nearby faucets to help drain the water faster). Let the water tank completely drain.
Fifth, close the drain valve and turn on the cold water inlet for a few minutes.
Sixth, once all the nearby faucets stop making noises turn them off, then open the drain again until all the water drains completely out.
You may need to repeat these steps until the water runs clean again from the drain valve. Once you’re finished, close the drain valve, disconnect the garden hose, turn the water inlet valves on, and also the power/gas. If this doesn’t solve your problem, please contact your technician.
Smelly Hot Water
Make certain only your hot water smells. If both the hot and the cold water smell or only the cold water smells, then that is not a hot water heater issue. Let the hot water run in a faucet for about three minutes, if it still smells, then you may need to flush your heater tank.
Inspecting and replacing the anode rod can help prevent rust in the water heater tank. If this is not the problem, your pilot light may have gone out. The temperature pressure relief valve can be replaced by yourself if it is faulty.
Turn your gas valve to OFF and wait a few minutes for the gas to dissipate. If you can smell the strong odor of gas and it doesn’t dissipate after a few minutes, then exit the building and call your gas company. If the gas did dissipate, turn your gas back on and relight your pilot light. If neither of these tips helps, you may need to replace one of the parts inside your unit. Contact your technician.
Problem Still Not Fixed?
If your problem still isn’t fixed after reading these tips, please feel free to contact us. We would love to put you safely at ease and fix your problem in a timely manner. If emergencies won’t wait, why should you? The answer is: You shouldn’t.
That’s why at Neighborhood we offer 24hr Plumbing Service, 7 days a week. We see these common problems often, and we are experienced with the uncommon problems, as well.
Further Reading: