When your water heater stops working, it's a noticeable problem for you and your household. Nobody wants to take a cold shower or wants to wash their hands or dishes in cold water. You take advantage of this appliance in your home and how often you use it on a daily basis. A water heater is a major appliance that needs to be cared for and maintained in order for it to work properly for years to come. This appliance can last for several years without needing to be replaced, but there is going to come a time when you have to replace it. This is a decision you will need to make—whether to repair or replace it. If your water heater is on the fritz and you want to try and repair it, read on for some helpful information that you may be able to use to repair it yourself.
Adjust The Thermostat
Make an adjustment to the thermostat to see if it was set too low. If the temperature was too low, it may cause a problem with your water not being hot enough. If this seems to be the issue, you can adjust the thermostat temperature and try to get it hotter. Make the adjustment and see if this helps for a few days. If you notice that the water is not keeping a steady temperature, the thermostat may not have been the issue at all, and it could be a problem with the heater core.
Clear Debris From The Heater Core
The hot water heater has a core at the base that heats the water. When this core is blocked by debris, it won't allow the water to heat up properly and you could end up with issues with the heat not being distributed evenly throughout your water heater. To clear the debris away, you will need to empty the contents of the water heater by draining the water out of the tank. The water coming out may still be hot, so you're going to want to drain it carefully. Once the water is drained out, you can use the suction from a shop vacuum to empty the contents out of the base of the tank. Suck out as much of the contents as you can, then close the drain. Open the water reservoir to the tank to allow water to fill the tank back up. It will take some time for the water to heat up in the tank, so wait several hours to see if it worked.
If your water heater is on the fritz, it may be repaired, or it may be time to replace it altogether. If the repair is too costly, or the water heater is old, you may want to consider replacing it. Talk to a professional plumber about which is best for your water heater and have it repaired or replaced by a professional.
For more info about water heater repairs, contact a local company.
