Hot Water Heater Troubles? Tips For Repair

The calcium carbonate present in water becomes precipitated when that water is heated, causing it to settle at the bottom of a hot water heater. This kind of build up inside of a tank is not good for your hot water heater. In addition to the calcium carbonate, any other heavy substances such as sand can add to the murky mess. Sediment can form a buildup at a rather slow rate, unless the water is hard. Those who live in an area where the water tends to be hard should be extra cautious, as hard water can lead to a faster buildup. Buildup may be an issue with septic systems as well, and problems with either should be promptly remedied. A hot water heater that has collected too much sediment will not provide your home with the proper hot water flow required to obtain your desired bath temperature. To keep a heater in optimum condition, it is ideal to have it flushed out on a regular basis.

In addition to buildup, both propane and electric heaters can have other common problems. One such issue is that the heater may run out of hot water more quickly than you would like, or that the water never becomes as hot as you would like it to be. If this is the case, a broken or leaking dip tube may be the culprit. The dip tube, a small plastic tube at the bottom of the tank, allows cold water to flow into the tank. A broken tube means that the cold water will mix with the hot water, leaving behind a tepid combination of the two. Luckily, the problem can be easily remedied with a replacement dip tube. A burnt out heating element could also cause this issue, but solving this problem is a bit trickier. A defective thermostat could call for a replacement of the entire unit or some big repairs.

If a propane heater is making strange sounds as the temperature rises, it could be on account of the same kind of buildup mentioned earlier. Sediment on the tank's bottom will rise to the top of the tank as the water heats and steam bubbles form under the buildup. This is another reason why flushing the tank is important and should be performed on a regular basis.

Pressure buildup is another kind of problem altogether, but one that is often seen in hot water heaters. Because heat causes the water within the tank to expand, heaters come equipped with a pressure reducing valve or check valve which allows the pressure to be released. When this valve becomes blocked the unchecked pressure may rise faster than the tank can allow, causing the heater to burst.

To create a solution for a blocked valve, it may be necessary to have a thermal expansion tank or a temperature-pressured valve installed on the inlet line. Doing so would allow the pressure to be released before it can be built up. A temperature-pressure valve should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that it is working properly.

----------------------------------------------------
Stewart Wrighter has often called on the expertise of a Dayton hot water heater specialist to fix plumbing issues in his large office building. For more information about hot water heaters go to
http://www.a-abel.com/plumbing/waterservice.aspx .

EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=194662