No one is happy when they have to endure a cold shower. If you are noticing that your hot water is not lasting as long as it once did, there could be an issue brewing in your water heater. Before you accuse a family member is hogging all the hot water, make a call to (214) 388-8838 to speak to a Flow Plumbing water heater pro. You will quickly learn that there could be many reasons for your hot water issue.
Old Age Takes Its Toll
There are many signs that your water heater needs some professional help. Fortunately, the licensed plumbers at Flow Plumbing are factory trained to repair all makes and models of water heaters. Some of the most common signs include:
- Running out of hot water faster than in the past
- Low hot water pressure
- Water leaking from the water heater
- Cloudy or rust-colored hot water
- Particulates in your hot water
- An odd or unpleasant odor to the hot water
- Strange noises coming from the water heater
Trouble Shooting Your Water Heater
Look for water leaking from the fittings in the supply and discharge piping, the pressure relief valve, and the drain valve. Also, check for leaks in the wall of the holding tank. A licensed plumber can repair leaks in the piping and at the valves. However, there is no safe way to repair rust or corrosion damage to the wall of a hot water tank. Replacement is the only solution.
Next, look at a sample of your hot water. Rusty looking water indicated sediment and corrosion inside the tank. The tank should be drained and flushed to remove this material before it compromises the tank wall and results in a failure. If you are not comfortable with this process, call (214) 388-8838 to schedule an appointment with a licensed plumber from Flow Plumbing.
Listening to any sounds coming from your water heater can also provide clues as to the issue. If you hear hissing, crackling, or banging noises, there is most likely sediment built up inside the holding tank. This sediment acts as an insulator around the heating element. The result is less effective heating of your water. Draining and flushing the tank should correct the issue.
Other Possible Issues
While you might think that your issue is undoubtedly due to a problem with your water heater, that might not be the case. What you believe is a decrease in your hot water supply could really be an issue with the hot water pipes such as a leak or corrosion build up. Or the problem could be in the water valve of your shower. The only way to be sure what is causing you to run out of hot water more quickly than in the past is to call in a licensed plumber.
Why Call In The Pros?
Unless you are familiar with the function of your water heater and plumbing in general, you could be doing more harm than good when you attempt to service or repair your water heater. Homeowners often forget to turn off the power, the water supply, or gas supply and create a flood, electrical short, or issue with the units pilot light. And while a licensed plumber can quickly repair all of these, there is also the potential for severely injuring yourself, which cannot be fixed easily.
You might think you can save a few bucks and call a local handyman to fix the issue. But in most cases, that will end up costing you more than a visit from a Flow Plumbing licensed professional. Our pros are trained to evaluate the entire plumbing system rather than looking at a single item as the root cause of a problem. A handyman could replace your water heater, only to discover that it was not. And his work is not going to carry the professional warranty that comes with any Flow Plumbing repair or replacement.
It is surely frustrating when you don’t have enough hot water to bathe and complete other tasks. But the only way to discover the problem is to call the trusted team at Flow Plumbing. A licensed plumber will arrive promptly to begin the evaluation process and determine the cause of the problem. Then you will get a written price quote for the repairs needed to restore your hot water. Just call (214) 388-8838 today and know that we will have the issue fixed quickly and cost-effectively.
