Most homeowners don’t give much thought to their water heater until something goes wrong. Then it becomes a source of frustration and a major inconvenience.
If your heater runs out of hot water or is leaking, first check the circuit breaker in the service panel to see if it has tripped. If it has, press the reset button. Then test the heating elements. However, if you professional help, contact Water Heater Repair Tampa.
A thermostat is a vital part of your home’s heating and cooling system. In fact, without a functioning thermostat you may not even realize that your home’s heating isn’t working. It’s important to understand how thermostats work so you can recognize common problems and troubleshoot them when they arise. This will help keep your home’s temperature comfortable and prevent costly repairs.
The basic function of a thermostat is to regulate the flow of energy to a device based on the device’s internal temperature and the surrounding environment. For example, a thermostat will increase the flow of electricity to your furnace when it senses that the room is getting too warm. The thermostat works by comparing the temperature of the room with the current setting of the thermostat. If the difference is greater than a certain threshold, the thermostat actuates a valve to reduce the flow of energy to the furnace. If the temperature is lower than a threshold, the thermostat reverses this action and increases the flow of energy to the furnace.
Water heater thermostats use the same basic principle as traditional thermostats. They consist of two pieces of different metals bolted together to form a strip that acts as an electrical bridge in a circuit connected to your water heater. When one of the metals gets hot, it expands more than the other, bending the strip slightly. The bridge then breaks, and the electricity shuts off.
If you’re experiencing no hot water, there could be a few reasons for this problem. You could have a tripped circuit breaker in the service panel, a tripped high-temperature limit switch or failed heating elements. First, make sure electricity is actually being delivered to the water heater. Check the circuit breaker in the service panel to see if it’s flipped off. If so, flip it back on. It will take some time for the water heater to reheat, so wait about an hour before testing your supply of hot water.
If you have a gas water heater, you should also check the pilot light. If it’s not lit, you’ll need a long lighter to reach into the access panel and start the pilot. Once you’ve done this, check other gas appliances in your home to ensure they are turned on and receiving gas.
Element
Water heaters are often out of sight, out of mind — until they break down. Without a functioning water heater, showers become cold, dishes stay dirty and laundry piles up. The effects of a burned-out heater element are far-reaching and can severely impact your family’s quality of life. That’s why it’s important to address any issues you encounter with your water heater right away.
While it’s impossible to predict when your water heater will stop working, there are a few indicators that can point you in the right direction. If your water heater produces lukewarm water, the top heating element has likely burnt out. If the water is rusty or discolored, it could also be an indication that this element has malfunctioned.
To begin, turn off the water and power to your tank. Next, disconnect the wires from the old heating element and remove it. Once you’ve removed the old heating element, it’s time to install the new one. Start by connecting the wires to the new heating element and attaching it to the mounting plate. Once you’ve finished, close the drain valve and reconnect the water supply. Turn on the water and test your new heating element to ensure it’s properly connected.
Most electric water heaters have a heating element near the bottom of the tank and another near the top. The lower heating element is responsible for maintaining a specific temperature of the water in the tank while it’s waiting to be used. The upper heating element is responsible for heating the water when it comes into the tank. When both of these elements break down, your hot water will suffer a significant reduction in quality and run out more quickly than normal. To avoid this, be sure to perform regular maintenance on your water heater by draining it twice a year and replacing the anode rod every three years. This will help prolong the lifespan of your water heater.
Dip Tube
A long plastic tube, a dip tube, is installed on your water heater to direct incoming cold water directly to the bottom of the tank where it is heated by either a gas burner or primary electric heating element. Water that enters the water heater through its top must pass by the hot water heater elements to reach your faucets and shower nozzles so it would be impossible to heat water from the bottom up without a directional flow.
Since a dip tube is submerged in water of different temperatures, acidity and mineral content it tends to wear out over time. When it does small pieces of the dip tube can end up in your hot water system. If you find small bits of dip tube in your faucet aerators, hoses or washing machine tubing it may be time to replace the old dip tube.
Fortunately, water heater dip tubes are relatively easy to replace. Before you begin you’ll want to shut off the gas and water at your heater. You’ll also need to drain the water heater tank. Once you’ve done this remove the hose from the drain valve and close the pressure relief valve on the water tank. You should also close the cold water supply line to your tank.
To remove the old dip tube, first pull up on the nipple of the connector attached to it with your hand or a wrench and turn it counterclockwise. You can then remove the old tube. Be careful, as it may be very hot. If you are replacing a metal or stainless steel dip tube, you might want to consider upgrading to one made from composite materials as these are less prone to corrosion.
Once you’ve removed the old dip tube, install the new one by attaching it to its new connector and inserting it into the inlet port on your water heater. Be sure to screw it in all the way and that the curve on the tip is pointing away from the drain valve on your water heater.
Now it’s time to reconnect the cold water line, refill your tank and restore power to your water heater. Once it’s back on, open a hot water faucet to vent air and then start the hot water flowing to check that the new dip tube is working properly.
Pressure Valve
A water heater safety valve (commonly referred to as a T&P valve) protects your water heater from excessive pressure, which can cause it to burst. This valve is found on all standard water heaters and some tankless units, and it is crucial to your home’s safety.
A T&P valve has a disc or diaphragm that lifts when system pressure exceeds its set point. A spring or other device keeps the valve closed at normal pressure levels. A screw can adjust the valve’s set pressure. A gas water heater’s T&P valve may also have an auxiliary pilot piston. If this is the case, the auxiliary pilot’s orifice can become dirty and clogged over time. This can cause the pilot light to keep going out or prevent it from lighting.
When the T&P valve malfunctions, it can allow excess pressure to build up in your water heater’s tank and leak out through the discharge pipe. This can lead to a fire that could burn your house down. This video from Bermad’s Water Heater Training Center explains what causes the T&P valve to fail, how to test it, and what to do when you discover that your safety valve is not working.
Before you start testing your water heater’s safety valve, make sure that the power is off and the water supply is shut off. Then, place a bucket underneath the discharge pipe to catch any water that flows out of the valve. If the valve opens and water flows into your bucket, it is functioning properly. If not, you will need to replace the valve. Once the new valve is installed, you will need to retest it. You should also test the low-temperature limit switch located down by the viewing door at the bottom of the water heater. This will ensure that the water heater is able to shut off before it overheats. This video from Dan Jiles demonstrates how to test this switch, and he also shows you how to reset it. After checking the temperature-pressure relief valve and the low-temperature limit switch, you should be able to get hot water flowing at your faucets again!