Water heaters are taken for granted by the majority of householders. The water heater is operating if they have hot water! If you don’t have access to hot water, what options do you have? Every year, we witness tens of thousands of dollars in damages caused by defective heaters as one of Metro Atlanta’s best plumbing businesses!

 As a result, it’s critical to learn about water heater maintenance and repair so that you and your family may continue to enjoy the hot water you deserve. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

Water heater failures remain one of the top three most preventable sources of water damage, according to a recent survey done by Allstate Insurance Company. Some steps can be taken to protect your home from incurring excessive water damage restoration fees. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

When it comes to water heater repair, you have several options. Some homeowners choose to do their own repairs. Others, on the other hand, contact a local plumber to repair a water heater because it is dependent on the type of water heater and your level of expertise.

As a result, we are able to provide some of the most popular repair services. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

However, we recommend that you only try repairs that you believe you can complete without the assistance of a professional. Always exercise caution when working on pressured plumbing lines; defective repairs can fail hours, days, or weeks after completion, usually when no one is home, and these breaches in the closed pressurised plumbing system can cost thousands of dollars!

How to Change a Heating Element in a Heater

Step 1: Turn off the electricity.

At the electrical panel, turn off the circuit breaker. Check using a voltage tester to see if the power is still reaching the water heater. Because you’ll be dealing with power and water, it’s critical to turn off the water heater. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

Step 2: Turn on the drain valve with a cable connected to it.

Turn on the drain valve with a cable fastened to it. We don’t want to drain the tank at this stage; we just want to make sure the drain valve isn’t clogged.

If your tank is clogged, you must first solve this problem.

At this point, do not drain your tank. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

Instructions for changing a heating element without draining are provided below. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

Step 3: Turn the Water Off

Close the cold-water inlet valve to turn off the water heater’s water supply (most commonly located above the water heater).

Allow air into the tank to relieve the hot water pressure. Open a nearby faucet to accomplish this. Only the hot water tap should be opened, not the cold. Make sure the tap is left open.

Remove the Access Panel Cover (Step 4)

Using a screwdriver, replace the cap of the access panel. The upper water heater element is housed in the upper panel. The lower part is housed in the lower panel. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

Between the panel door and the thermostat, there is normally insulation. Place the insulation in a dry location. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

A plastic cover should be on the thermostat. Remove the cover with care.

Make sure there is no power on the wires by using a voltmeter. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

Examine the wiring. Is there any damage to the wires? Are there any parts that have melted? If silt causes an element to overheat, the wiring can be destroyed. Wiring that has been damaged must be repaired.

Disconnect the two element wires by loosening the screws. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

A heating element remover should be used to remove the element. (Step 5)

It features a broad mouth that fits over the exposed part of the element and is intended specifically for removing electric water heater elements.

Slightly loosen the element in a counter-clockwise motion while the tank is still full of water. The weight of the water will keep the tank in place.

Drain the tank by opening the drain valve once you’re sure you can loosen the heating element. This could take up to an hour, depending on the size of your tank.

Take away the ingredient. The tank will be sealed with a rubber gasket or “O” ring. Make sure the “O” ring is removed along with the element.

Install the New Heating Element in Step 6

Clean the threads and gasket region of the replacement element with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or debris.

Connect the new element to the new “O” ring.  Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

With the element wrench, gently push the element into the tank and tighten it.

Attach the two wires to the element and tighten the screws to keep them in place. Check to make sure the cables are secure and won’t slip.

Step 7: Fill the Tank with Water

Close the drain valve on the water heater. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

Turn on the water heater’s faucet.

AT THIS TIME, DO NOT TURN ON THE POWER.

You must have a full tank of water before turning on the power, or the heating elements will be damaged.

Check for leaks in the freshly placed piece. Turn off the cold-water supply and tighten the element if there is a leak. It’s possible that the element will need to be removed and the “O” ring repositioned.

Water will begin to splutter from the open faucet tap as the tank fills (left open in Step 3). The air is being pushed out of the line by the water. 

The faucet can be turned off after there is a continuous flow of water.

The plastic thermostat cover, insulation, and access panel cover should all be replaced.

By flipping the circuit breaker on after the tank has filled with water, you can turn the electricity back on to the water heater. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

It’s fairly uncommon for the hot water taps throughout the house to sputter because there will most likely be air in the hot water lines. This will dissipate in a short amount of time. If you wish, you can open each faucet individually until you have a continuous stream of water.

Repairing an Electric Water Heater

The replacement of one or both heating elements or thermostats can solve many electric water heater problems. Remember to turn off the circuit breaker or fuse that powers your electric water heater.

Additionally, before trying repairs, turn off the water supply, or you may end up with a greater mess than you started with. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

Screw in, bolt in, and clamp in water heater elements are the three most common types of water heater elements that need to be replaced. If you feel the elements are to blame, repairing your water heater is a relatively simple task. The following steps are included in the procedure:

• checking the elements, removing them if they are actually broken, and replacing them

If the heating elements are working properly, the fault could be with the thermostat, electrical circuit, or cut-off switch. It’s more difficult to test these difficulties. If one of these elements is causing your hot water problems, they are reasonably affordable to replace/repair (apart from electrical issues).

 It’s also worth remembering that water heaters have a 10-to-15-year lifespan. As a result, in the case of older models, replacement may be preferable over repair. In addition, hard water is more difficult on water heaters in general. Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

It’s possible that your device will fail within the warranty period if your home has hard water. If in doubt, seek professional advice from a repair technician.

Keep in mind that threads and other elements of the linked parts to the water heater corrode after ten years, and changing these parts might result in leaks at the entrance point of the provided part, which is why a replacement is a much better and cost-effective solution.  Find Water Heater Repair Irvine ,Top Water Heater Repair Mission Viejo

When calling a plumber, make sure to ask about your replacement water heater alternatives; there are a lot of them, and with rebates from local utility companies, a direct swap to a new basic tank type may not be the greatest overall decision when it comes to operating and maintaining it.

Repairing a Gas Water Heater

Gas water heaters can also be troubleshooted and repaired by experienced homeowners. Before undertaking any repairs, remember to turn the gas pilot control valve to the “pilot” position for safety. Also, turn off the unit’s water supply. Repairing and troubleshooting a water heater on a regular basis entails:

• inspecting the gas pilot flame and the operation of the pilot.

• changing, relocating, or tightening the gas thermocouple

• the gas pilot control valve must be replaced.

• inspecting the burner for proper flame.

• a magnesium anode rod in place of a sacrificial anode rod

• Cleaning the water heater to remove silt and replace the anode with a zinc-alloy anode.

• the temperature and pressure relief valves must be replaced.

Please note that some indicators may signal that your gas water heater has to be replaced. Watermarks or significant rusting in the bottom of the tank and/or water in the bottom of the combustion chamber, for example, indicate that replacement is imminent.

Maintenance Tips for Water Heaters

Even though an annual maintenance plan cannot guarantee that your home will be free of water damage, frequent inspections may significantly minimise the risk, as well as alert you to potential problems and give you time to plan for replacement.

Additionally, annual maintenance provides a plan of action to avert such disasters.

Only the most experienced do-it-yourselves should try water heater maintenance. However, the following includes some fundamental “water heater 101” information on what and how to use a water heater.