Signs your water heater needs to be repaired
Your water heater likely needs a repair if it:
- Isn’t giving you any hot water. This could mean a faulty burner (in gas units) or heating element (in electric units). It could also mean mineral deposits are building up around the heating element, preventing it from properly heating your water.
- Gives low water pressure. Do you notice low hot water pressure on multiple plumbing fixtures? Sometimes this means a problem with a distribution line, but more often than not, the problem is caused by mineral deposits building up inside your pipes, reducing the pressure coming from your tank.
- Is making strange noises. If you hear a popping or crackling sound, that usually means you have mineral deposits building up inside your tank. You’ll need a plumber to flush them out.
Not getting any hot water?
Try troubleshooting these common issues before calling a plumber:
- Does your unit have fuel?
If you have a gas water heater, make sure the gas supply valve is switched to the ON position and that your pilot light is lit.
If you have an electric water heater, make sure your unit is plugged in and that the circuit breaker it’s connected to didn’t get flipped to OFF.
- Did the reset button trip?
Electric water heaters have a high-temperature cutoff (also called a high-limit switch) that flips off when water inside your tank exceeds 180°F. This switch protects you from scalding water. Pressing the button should reset your water heater, but if the switch flips again, something’s wrong with your unit.
If you tried the fixes above and still aren’t getting any hot water, it’s time to call a professional to figure out the problem.
