Residential Water Heating Problems That Require You to Call in a Plumber
Your electric water heater is one of those appliances in the home that require both plumbing and electrical maintenance service. Most often, when there is an issue with your water heater, it can be difficult to tell whether you need to call in an electrician or a plumber to diagnose and fix the problem. Here is a run-through of a few common problems that call for a plumber and not an electrician.
Clogging
Over time, sediment can build up inside your water heating equipment and block water supply to your home. When this happens, you will notice that your faucets will be supplying water at low pressure or they will not supply any water at all. Clogging problems in water heaters tend to exacerbate over time; therefore, it is important to attend to them immediately. Otherwise, you might be forced to replace your entire system prematurely.
In most cases, the buildup occurs in the water storage tank. Therefore, that's the first place your plumber will check. If there is sediment in the tank, it will need to be flushed out. This is done by draining all the water from the tank and then refilling the tank with clean water, which is also flushed out by opening the drain valve. This process is done repeatedly until there is no more buildup inside the tank.
Homeowners should not wait until there is a clogging problem to flush out sediment from their water heating tanks – the tanks should be cleaned as part of scheduled maintenance.
Leaking
Another common problem experienced with water heaters is leaking. If you can see water coming out from somewhere other than your hot water supply faucets, then it means you are experiencing leaking issues. Leaks result in wastage of hot water, but can also translate into high water and energy bills. Therefore, it is important to make sure leaks are sealed post-haste.
Typically, when there is a leak, you can see water pooling on your floors. Any of the joints or connections in your water heating equipment is susceptible to leaking, but the pressure relief valve and the drain valve are often the most likely trouble spots. With that in mind, it is a good idea to begin your inspection at these areas. You can locate your pressure relief valve inside the water storage tank, whereas the drain valve is typically found at the bottom of the tank.
For more information, contact a professional in your area or visit a website like http://www.royaltyonline.com.au.
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