Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Water Heater Repair’

Could Your Water Heater Use a Repair or Two?

Monday, February 17th, 2020

water-heaterWhat if you were offered an all-inclusive 12-night stay at a luxurious hotel in the Carribean… but, in order to go, you had to get rid of your water heater? Would you do it? No, of course not! Heck, you probably wouldn’t even get rid of your water heater if you were offered a million bucks — it’s just that important to your comfort!

Because your water heater is one of THE MOST important components of your plumbing system, it is important that you take care of it. Of course, that includes calling for repairs as soon as you notice a problem. Fortunately, there are a number of signs that suggest your system needs repair, and below, we have outlined some of them for you. All you have to do is keep reading to find out more (and, of course, remember to call our team when you need a plumber in Yelm.)

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3 Signs Your Water Heater Needs Repairs

Monday, April 27th, 2015

Hot water is a vital resource, and anyone who has suffered a water heater breakdown can attest to how frustrating it can be to go without it. Many times, those breakdowns can be anticipated and addressed with preventative maintenance or repair session from a qualified Olympia, WA plumber. If you can spot the signs of distress in your water heater, you can schedule a session at your convenience to address the problem, instead of having to scramble once it deprives you of hot water. Here are 3 signs your water heater needs repairs.

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The Reason for Loud Noises from Your Water Heater

Friday, October 17th, 2014

Your water heater works hard to produce hot water for the tasks you rely on every day, so it’s important to take care of your water heater in return. This includes calling an expert for maintenance from time to time and calling for repairs whenever you notice a problem. Sometimes, problems with your water heater result in a total lack of hot water, which generally convinces you to call for repairs as soon as possible.

But another pressing issue to pay attention to is loud noises, which may mean your unit is at risk of failure or sudden leaks. Loud noises may indicate a couple of different issues, and we’ll go over each of them here. When you need water heater repairs in Olympia, be sure to trust the experts at Brooks Plumbing.

Some Causes of Different Noises

Noises from your water heater may indicate a couple of different problems. If you don’t call for repairs soon, these could worsen and cause your unit to break down.

  • Sediment in the Tank: A banging or rattling noise from the tank may indicate that sediment is loosely rattling around in there. If you have hard water in your home, minerals can build up inside of the tank. Often, this only means the tank needs to be drained, and a technician can ensure the proper procedure to flush the tank of any sediment. In some cases, this can cause blockages and increase the pressure in the tank.
  • Water on the Burner: Another common sound is sizzling, which may happen whether or not the water heater is in use. This usually indicates that condensation is dripping onto the burner of a gas heater. This may mean you don’t get enough heating, even though you continue to consume energy throughout the day.
  • High Pressure: Your water heater has components in place to monitor the pressure, but the sound of rushing water could mean this system has failed and the pressure is too high. You may need a new pressure relief valve. On the other hand, too much sediment in the tank increases the volume, which could cause irreparable damage, increasing the pressure. In some cases, this means you need an entirely new unit.

For professional water heater repairs in Olympia, call the experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

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Causes of Discolored Water from Your Water Heater

Friday, October 10th, 2014

If you turn on a hot water tap in your home and notice the water is not clear, don’t panic. If your water heater or plumbing system is well-maintained and is not yet due for replacement, there is a good chance that you simply have a small problem that requires repair. However, if you have an older water heater, one that was poorly installed, or one that is not well-maintained, brown or rust-colored water may indicate serious corrosion.

You need a plumber experienced in water heater repairs so that you can be sure you get the repair or replacement services you need. To schedule water heater repairs in Olympia, call the experts at Brooks Plumbing. If you want to know more about the possible causes of discoloration from hot water, take a look at the following list.

  • Worn Anode Rod: The anode rod attracts particles that cause rust and corrosion to protect your tank. If this rusts through, however, your water may turn a reddish-brown color, and, eventually, your tank may begin to rust. This is a small part that should be replaced from time to time, which is why it’s important to have a plumber inspect your water heater during a maintenance visit once a year.
  • Corroded Tank: However, if your anode rod is not very old and rust does begin to affect your tank, replacement is usually the only option. Most water heaters will last over 10 years with proper maintenance, so if your unit has not reached this point, discoloration could point to a different issue.
  • Excess Sediment: Your storage tank water heater stores water at all times, so minerals from the water supply may begin to settle at the bottom of the tank over time. Too many of these minerals may make the water appear yellow, which is why it’s important to have a professional flush your tank from time to time.
  • Rusty Pipes: If both the hot and cold water taps produce discoloration, the problem may unfortunately be in your pipes.  Galvanized steel pipes will eventually rust through, and should be replaced with modern copper or plastic piping.

For plumbing service and water heater repairs in Olympia, call the friendly technicians at Brooks Plumbing today!

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Water Heater Repair FAQ: What Is a Heating Element?

Friday, September 26th, 2014

While your water heater allows you to do so many important activities around the home, such as cleaning floors, doing laundry, washing dishes, and taking hot showers, most homeowners generally don’t know about the various parts involved in this process. Of course, water heater repair is a complex job best left to experienced professionals, so it’s likely that you’ll never have to deal with the various components of a water heater on your own. However, the heating element is an interesting component of an electric water heater, relying on the principle of heat rising to provide hot water. In this guide, we’ll look at how the traditional storage tank water heater works and the role of the heating element in electric models, as well as what may go wrong.

Storage tank water heaters, the most common type of unit found in homes, use a fairly simple process to supply hot water whenever a hot water tap is turned on. First, cold water travels through a long dip tube at the top of the tank that leads all the way to the bottom. Water is heated at the bottom of the tank and naturally rises to the top over the denser cold water. Another shorter tube at the top of the tank allows water to enter into the pipes and reach your faucets.

With a gas-powered water heater, water is heated with a burner located underneath the tank. For homes without access to a natural gas line, however, an electric water heater may be a better option. Electric units use small heating elements installed inside of the tank rather than burners to heat the water. These metal elements heat up via electrical resistance. There is a heating element toward the bottom of the tank and another at the top in order to help keep water thoroughly heated when the tank is not in use. However, because the bottom element takes on the bulk of the work, it may be more susceptible to breaking down. It’s important to have a technician assess the damage and ensure a replacement element uses the same voltage.

The best way to prevent damages to your water heater is by scheduling regular water heater maintenance with a professional. When you need maintenance or water heater repair in Olympia, call one of the experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

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Water Heater Repair FAQ: What to Do if You Have a Broken Water Heater

Monday, February 4th, 2013

You probably don’t give too much thought to your water heater. When you turn on the faucet, hot water comes out and that’s that. It’s much more difficult to just forget about your water heater when it breaks down or is damaged, though. That appliance that makes your life so much easier and convenient can also cause some serious headaches when it breaks. Are you prepared to handle the situation if this happens in your Tumwater home? Here is some advice about what to do if your water heater breaks from Brooks Plumbing.

There are a number of different problems that you may experience with your water heater. One of the major issues that a water heater may encounter is a leak. Water heater leaks are very messy and can do a lot of damage. You need to act quickly in the event of leaking water heater.

Cut off the power to your water heater before you do anything. If your water heater runs on electricity just go to the circuit breaker and cut the power to your appliance. If you have a gas water heater find the gas valve supplying the device and close it off.

To avoid turning your basement into a swimming pool you should also shut off the cold water that supplies you water heater. This will prevent the water heater from refilling as water leaks out. You may not be able to stop the leak yourself, but this will help you prevent it from getting any worse.

The most important thing that you can do in such a situation is simply to call your local water heater service provider. A professional plumber will be able to pinpoint the location of the leak and resolve the problem. No leak is too small or minor to merit calling a professional plumber for repair service.

If your water heater in Tumwater breaks, call Brooks plumbing right away. One of our expert Tumwater plumbers will be along to resolve your problem quickly and effectively. Don’t let a broken water heater lead to water damage and other issues. Contact Brooks Plumbing today for Tumwater water heater repair services.

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Plumbing Question: Why Is My Hot Water Heater Not Heating Water?

Monday, August 13th, 2012

Hot water heaters that stop working can affect an entire home.  Not only do water heater problems create cold showers, but they lessen the effectiveness of doing simple tasks such as laundry.  The Olympia plumbing specialists at Brooks Plumbing understand the most common water heater problems and can not only help you understand them but provide quick and easy water heater repairs.

Common Water Heater Problems: When the Water Heater Is Not Heating Water

  • Tripped Circuit Breaker or Blown Fuse: If the circuit breaker has been tripped or blown to the circuit that gives power to the water heater, the water heater will not work.  If there are any blown fuses this will also cause water heater to not heat water.
  • Pilot Light Problems:  If the pilot light goes out, it will cause the water in a water heater to not heat properly.  Because it is a gas appliance it will need to be lit again by a trained professional.
  • Bad Thermocouple:  A faulty thermocouple or other gas control can mean that it fails to open the pilot control valve which would result in no water heating.
  • Faulty Thermostat: If a thermostat doesn’t work properly it will not sense the temperature well and will result in water not being heated to acceptable temperatures.
  • Sediment Buildup in the Water Tank:  If too much sediment has built up inside the water tank, the water will not heat properly.  With proper water heater maintenance any sediment buildup will be addressed by the water heater technician who does the inspection.
  • Water Leaks:  Plumbing connections that are not tight can cause water leaks.  If the water tank itself is leaking it is possible that the entire tank needs to be repaired or replaced professionally.

All of these common water heater problems can be fixed by the Olympia water heater service professionals at Brooks Plumbing. Call us today!

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How to Lower Energy Costs for Your Home: Water Heater Tips

Monday, July 2nd, 2012

If you want to lower the energy costs for your Lacey home, the water heater might not be the first place you’d think to save energy. However, when you add up the savings from a few easy steps that can improve your water heater’s efficiency, it can make a significant difference in your utility bills.

Here are some of the ways you can reduce the use of hot water in the home and increase your energy savings.

Saving Energy by Using Less Hot Water

Even if you own an energy-efficient, tankless water heater, and you try to conserve water as much as possible, hot water usage can always be reduced in other areas. Installing low flow faucets and fixtures can provide up to 60% in water savings because they reduce the flow rate (gallons per minute) for each fixture. Tankless water heaters are also more efficient when they are used with any application with a lower flow rate.

Replacing older appliances that require a lot of hot water with more energy-efficient models is worth the money and effort because of the energy savings you will get in the end. Make sure you fix any leaks on older hot water faucet or fixtures. A leak that costs a dollar or two extra per month doesn’t seem like much, but it will add up over time.

Lower the Temperature on Your Hot Water Heater

For every 10°F that you lower the water temperature on your hot water heater, you save between 3% to 5% in energy costs. The manufactured setting for most water heaters is 140°F, but most homes only require a maximum temperature of 120°F. Check your owner’s manual before you lower the temperature on your water heater to find out what the recommended settings are and how to change them.

Insulate Your Water Heater Tank and Water Pipes

Whether you have a gas or electric hot water heater, you can find fairly inexpensive and easy-to-install insulators or “jackets” for your water heater tank. Every tank has an R-value that determines how much heat it loses, so unless it is a high value, your water heater tank needs insulation. Call a Lacey plumber or check your owner’s manual for the R-value of your hot water heater, but the general rule is that if the tank is warm when you touch it, you need more insulation.

You can reduce emissions and your energy costs simply by paying more attention to how much hot water you are using in your Lacey home. For more tips and expert advice, call Brooks Plumbing Co to speak with one of our technicians.

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