More often than not, homeowners wait until their hot water systems are in dire need of repairs before they decide to call in a professional. Unfortunately, when you wait that long to address your hot water system maintenance and concerns, you end up paying a hefty price for the repairs.
Hot water systems are just like any other machine or electronic system. Their parts eventually fail due to wear and tear, requiring replacement. And, just like any other system with moving parts and free-flowing liquids, it’s usually better to replace those parts before they wear down to the point of failure.
In some cases, it’s also better to install an entirely new system. Either way, it’s more cost-effective to keep up with the maintenance rather than having to deal with multiple repairs at once.
To help you better understand what goes into hot water repairs, we’ve outlined some of the most common issues that occur with hot water systems. Learning how to troubleshoot the following issues should give you an idea of their urgency level as well as the importance of regular hot water system maintenance.
Here’s what you’re likely dealing with:
Your Hot Water System Is Leaking
When it comes to hot water systems, there’s no such thing as a “small leak.” Small leaks quickly turn into expensive problems.
Hot water systems typically last between 10 and 13 years. Over that time, the appliance ages, sediment builds up, sacrificial anodes deplete and tanks fail.
So, if you notice water leaking from your system, the first thing you need to do is figure out where the leak is coming from.
The good news: If the leak is coming from the pressure relief valve or loose fittings, you can probably get away with simply tightening or replacing those parts.
The bad news: If the leak isn’t coming from the pressure relief valve or fittings, you’re most likely going to have to replace the entire system. This is possibly due to a corroded tank. Click here to contact a professional.
Your “Hot Water” Is Either Too Hot or Too Cold
As mentioned earlier, hot water systems come equipped with several moving parts. In the case of experiencing extreme water temperatures, these moving parts typically involve the thermostat, pilot light (gas storage), and heater element, to name a few.
If your water is hotter than hot, the first thing that should be checked is the temperature setting and adjust it if necessary. If the temperature doesn’t go down after an hour or so, you may have a faulty thermostat that’s allowing the heater element to stay active for too long. You might also be in need of a tempering valve but these normally fail to cold in the first instance.
If your water is cold, the first step is to check if the pilot light has gone out. Of course, this only applies if you have a gas water heater, in which case you can relight the pilot light or get in touch with your gas company.
If you have an electric system, you’ll want to check the system’s circuit breaker. If the circuit has been tripped, flip the water heater switch back on. If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to contact a hot water specialist to diagnose and fix the issue.
Your Hot Water System Is Making Strange Noises
There are several common sounds that hot water systems make: Knocking, gurgling, and popping.
Much of the cause behind these noises have to do with old age, sediment buildup, and expanding and contracting metal parts—but mostly sediment buildup. Essentially, as sediment collects over time becoming limescale, the volume of water at the bottom of the tank decreases.
This creates a force that leads to steam bubbles. As the steam bubbles attempt to rise through the sediment, they become trapped, which is when they start rattling around causing the above-mentioned noises. This is most likely due to the lack of hot water system maintenance.
These noises may seem common, but they shouldn’t be. They’re a sign that your hot water system needs a good flushing, which is best left in the hands of a specialist.
Your Hot Water Is Dirty
Does your cold water run clear but your hot water flow has a brown, rusty colour and possibly black specs?
If the answer is yes, then the issue is corrosion in the hot water tank. This generally happens as hot water systems age beyond 10 years. The black specs are pieces of corroded materials that have flaked off and entered your water lines.
A general rule of thumb to go by if you’ve forgotten your water tank’s age: If you can see rust on the outside of the tank, then you can be sure there’s rust on the inside as well. When this happens, the only thing you can do is replace your hot water system before it fails completely
Your Hot Water Keeps Running Out
There are a few specific reasons why your hot water keeps running out before you finish shampooing your hair:
- Your thermostat is having issues
- Faulty tempering valve
- Faulty element
- Not enough water flow (continuous flow gas system)
More often than not, homeowners who attempt to fix the the system themselves ended up with more issues than they started with. It would always be best to contact a professional for the job.
When to do the hot water system maintenance?
Regardless of the issue, you’re going to have to contact a specialist to pinpoint the exact issue and carry on with the hot water repairs or replacement.
The key, however, is not to wait too long—especially if you hear boiling sounds coming from your tank. The same goes for hot water system maintenance.
To learn more about how often you should have your current water tank drained, flushed, and assessed, contact us today.
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