Even the best water heater is not immune to issues. And, considering that a quality water heater can last as long as 20 years, there are several water heater problems you may encounter over the lifespan of your unit.
Instead of running out and buying a new one, you might be able to save some serious cash by fixing your water heater. Here’s a list of water heater problems you may encounter – and what you should do about them.
Electric Water Heater Problems:
1. Your water is lukewarm, instead of hot
This is one of the most common electric water heater problems. In most cases, lukewarm water can be blamed on the thermostat inside your tank. If it’s not working quite right, it can’t provide you with water that’s the right temperature.
Or, if your water heater is older, you may need a new heating rod.
If neither of those do the trick, take a look at your water bills. If they seem too high, a valve could be leaking – causing cold water to constantly be brought into the tank, and cooling everything off in the process.
2. Your water is too hot
Again, a broken thermostat is the likely culprit for these types of water heater problems. The good news is it can likely be fixed without calling a professional. Simply lower the thermostat temperature on the tank, and your problem should go away.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, you likely need a new thermostat for your hot water heater.
If you can’t get any cold water at all, chances are a valve is not working or something inside the pipes is blocking the water. For that repair, you’ll need a plumber.
3. There’s not enough hot water
Before thinking you need major repairs, check the size of your water heater and see how much hot water it is suppose to produce. Smaller hot water heaters may only give you 10 or 15 minutes of hot water at a time.
If you’re running out of hot water before you should be, chances are a leaky valve is to blame.
4. Your water heater is leaking
There’s no good news if your water heater is leaking; only problems that are less severe than others. Hopefully, the only issue is that one of the pipes has come loose and just needs to be adjusted. That’s the best-case scenario.
Your thermostat could also be to blame. If the pressure in your tank gets too high, a safety valve will open. It is designed to dump water out instead of running the risk of an explosion.
Or, your tank may be cracked and may need to be replaced.
5. You’re seeing rust-colored water
Rust-colored water most likely means there’s an abundance of iron and other minerals in your tank. Empty your tank by shutting off the intake valve and open another valve. If you turn on only the hot water in your faucet and nothing comes out, it means that the tank is empty. Turn the intake valve back on and repeat this process several times.
If you continue to have problems, the glass lining on the inside may be damaged.
Gas water heater problems:
1. Your water is lukewarm, instead of hot
In most cases, the thermostat inside the tank needs to be adjusted or replaced.
However, before you do that, check the pilot light to see if it’s functioning properly. If it’s out, that’s the source of your problem, and a simple re-start will fix it.
If you smell gas, turn off the gas line and call a professional.
If none of those solutions work and your water bills seem too high, a valve could be leaking hot water forcing colder water to continually be brought in to the tank
2. Your water is too hot
Again, start by checking the pilot light to make sure that it is functioning properly. If that’s not the issue, lower your thermostat pressure.
3. There’s not enough hot water
Hopefully, you just need a bigger water heater.
If that’s not the reason for your water heater problems, you may need to replace a leaky valve. If you notice any water leaking out, it means that either your safety valve or your tank is damaged.
4. Your water heater is leaking
Just like electric water heaters, gas-powered heaters can leak for a variety of reasons – including a loose pipe, pressure that’s too high, or a cracked tank.
5. You’re seeing rust-colored water
Start by following the same flushing instructions in the electric water heater problems section. If that doesn’t work, your pilot light may have damaged the bottom of your tank.
Tankless Water Heater Problems:
1. You’ve noticed a sudden drop in hot water
Tankless water heaters are typically not designed to provide hot water for multiple sources at once (for example two showers at once).
If that’s not the issue, you could be dealing with a safety mechanism. Several tankless models are designed to automatically shut down if they get too hot.
2. There’s no hot water at all
Some tankless units corrode overtime and will likely need to be replaced. The best way to prevent this from happening is to check for condensation around the heater.
These heaters can also burn out overtime.
Or, if it was installed outside, your water heater may have frozen over.
3. You’re noticing an unwanted smell
Some tankless water heaters rely on gas; if they’re installed inside, they can release byproducts that smell. The best advice is to have your tankless water heater installed in your garage or outside. Doing so should help eliminate your water heater problems.