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Water Heater DIY

Hot Water Heater

Water heaters are one asset in the hope that people know very little about. There are several common kinds of water heater repair that homeowners can take care of themselves. Common problems that occur with water heaters include:

  • No hot water
  • Inadequate hot water
  • Discolored water
  • Smelly water
  • Low rumbling or other small noise
  • High pitched noise
  • Water leaking around the base

A lot rides on your water heater, so be sure if you have an issue that you perform any water heater repair in a timely fashion. Getting professional help is suggested, however, there are a few things you can do on your own to help fix some of the smaller issues.

Most importantly, be sure to prepare safely before beginning any water heater repair on your own. Turn off the power to an electric water heater by turning off the circuit breaker or fuse powering the heater. If you have a gas pilot, turn the gas pilot control valve to ‘pilot’ setting. Also be sure to shut off the water supply to the water heater.

If you’re water heater suddenly stops working, chances are a bad thermocouple has shut off the gas to the pilot light. Replacement is cost effective and relatively easy. However, if you have a closed burner chamber, let a professional handle this repair.

Experiencing a water leak? This is a common occurrence, and there are a few potential causes for this situation. First, check for condensation around the sides of the water heater. The weather could be causing this when water is entering the tank. Simply turn off the power to the tank for a few hours. If the condensation on the tank goes away, you have no leak.
Water could also be coming from a nearby plumbing connection. If you can locate that leak, try to tighten the pipe fitting until it is snug. A leak can also come from the temperature pressure relief valve (T and P valve). Located at the top of the water outlet joint, first, try to tighten the valve while being sure not to over tighten it. If that does not work, there are other things to be tried but we recommend getting a professional at that point if the T and P valve is the issue.
Finally, if you still have a leak, it could be coming from the water heater’s gasket. With the power and gas off, try to tighten the thermostat bracket over the element. If this does not work the gasket must be replaced.

This blog touches on a few water heater repairs that homeowners can perform on their own. If the water heater repair becomes overwhelming, pick up the phone and call a professional plumber like the pros at Plumbing Masters at (602) 296-1127.

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