Imagine when you want to take a bath or wash the dishes; your only choice is cold water. In cold regions, this problem can be a nightmare. But as you can see, the water we use for bathing is hot. We owe this warmth of the water to a device called a water heater. In this article, we will talk about what a water heater is and how it works. Then, by examining water heaters’ routine problems, we will tell you how to avoid them. Finally, we will review water heater maintenance and teach you three ways to extend your water heater’s lifespan. Note that we are talking about electric water heaters in the following article, which includes two categories. (tank and tankless)
What is the water heater?
As the name of the water heater implies, the water heater is responsible for heating the water. We often use heated water for washing dishes and clothes, bathing, cooking, and heating the home environment. In general, electric water heaters require less maintenance than other types of water heaters. But you still have to be careful that your device does not suffer preventable damage. Water heaters, like any other electrical appliance, need to be maintained and may also be damaged. The worst thing you can do when your water heater breaks down is to repair it. We don’t recommend repairing the water heater in any way. Repairing this device is a specialized job and should be fixed by a skilled technician. If you do not follow the standards when repairing, you may seriously damage your device. Therefore, we suggest that you contact a professional water heater repair company to repair your device to ensure they observe all safety points.
How does a water heater work?
A pipe injects cold water into the water heater. There are heating elements in an electric water heater that are heated using electric energy. These elements are responsible for raising the temperature of the water. As mentioned, electric water heaters can have a tank or can be tankless. For the tank models, there is an element inside the tank. In tankless models, the heating element is located on the way out of the water from the water heater. After the water heats up, hot water enters the house’s plumbing system through hot water pipes. Every time we use hot water, the water heater detects the flow of water. Using the elements inside its system converts the cold water into hot water. This process continues in the same way. It’s not wrong to know that we can adjust the house’s hot water temperature through the thermostat in the water heater to control the elements’ temperature. If it is icy, we can raise the water temperature with the help of a thermostat, and if it is boiling, we can lower the water temperature a little.
Common water heater problems
If we want to point out the common water heater problems, perhaps the first case is related to water temperature issues. The water temperature can be too low or too high to be a problem for us. In all these cases, the first thing to consider is the temperature of the thermostat. It is good to know that 120 degrees Fahrenheit is acceptable as a standard temperature by experts in this field. But if, after checking the water temperature, you find that your water heater does not heat the water at all or does not heat it enough, it could be several reasons. These problems can include a lack of electricity, low capacity water heater, thermostat failure, or heating element failure. We recommend leaving the water heater repairs to experts in this field and focusing on preventing possible problems instead of repairing the water heater. For this purpose, you need to know what water heater maintenance involves. In this article’s continuation, you can find detailed explanations that can help you properly maintain the water heater.
Other problems that a water heater can face can be leaks. This leak can have various causes such as a bad gasket, a stuck valve, overheating, loose heating element bolts, etc. To solve leakage in the water heater, be sure to contact a professional technician in this field. It is better to know this problem can cause more water heater issues if not addressed in time. When you see a water heater leak, you should temporarily stop using the water heater and contact experts in this field. But as the last common problem that we can introduce in usually old water heaters, we must mention the change in color and smell of water. This problem can be due to rot or rust in the water heater. The solution to solve this problem is to replace the defective part. A professional water heater technician must do this. Of course, since this problem occurs mostly with old water heaters, another option before you is to replace the water heater.
How to extend the lifespan of the water heater
Now it’s time to talk about things you can do to increase the life of your water heater dramatically. One of these tasks is to wash the water heater tank. If you use a tank water heater, you must clean the tank annually. But it would help if you kept in mind that emptying the tank does not mean flushing the water heater. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions for adequately draining the water heater.
Another critical point is to check the anode rod. Anode Rod is installed inside the tank to prevent any rust and rot. This part should be inspected every year when emptying the tank and replaced if necessary. But the last point is to Check the Pressure Valve. Check the milk several times a year for optimal performance. An excellent suggestion is to use water heater annual inspection services provided by various companies.. This service can prevent potential problems and minimize your repairs’ cost and significantly increase the water heater’s lifespan.
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