Diagnosing Water Heater Problems

If the tank is leaking the water heater must be replaced.

Diagnosing water heater problems.

On electric water heaters it is usually located under the access panel on the side of the heater or it may be located on the front. If this valve is loose water might leak out of the heater. Low water pressure results in spot boiling. If you find water on the floor near the water heater it means that water is seeping from the tank.

Gas water heaters have a gas burner that heats the water from below the tank. Water leaking from the bottom an electric water heater that s leaking from the bottom is typically because of normal condensation a leaking electric heating element gasket or a small amount of water being expelled through the overflow pipe because the t p valve is opening to release excess pressure in the tank. Turn off the water heater for a few minutes and then turn it back on. For electric hot water heaters start troubleshooting with a quick reset.

Wait about hour and see if your water heats up. Other problems may be due to improper settings high home water pressure or a lack of tank maintenance. Lime scale on the element results in steam pockets in the scale. The water could be coming from a loose valve or from a leaky pipe.

Sediment in the tank. Turn on the hot water tap at a sink and check for the following scenarios. No special tools required. Also check the reset button on the thermostat the red button located at the top of the thermostat.

If that doesn t work perform a hard reset by shutting off power to the water heater at the circuit breaker box. Noise can occur for many reasons and most do not signify a problem. Problems with little or no heat usually are caused by a failed heating element an inexpensive part that is relatively easy to replace. Hot water heater is noisy.

Sizzling may result from condensation dripping on the burner. At water heater noise diagnosis cure. The cure for a hot water problem may be as simple as turning the temperature setting up. If your electric water heater has stopped working entirely or if it produces less hot water quantity than normal or the electric water heater produces warm but not hot water the diagnosis of the water heater problem is pretty easy and sometimes the repair is easy and inexpensive as well.