Hot water tanks, like any other part of your Hamilton home, require regular maintenance and you’ll want to ensure the maintenance has been completed before the cold winter months. Here are some of the most common hot water heater problems Hamilton homeowners experience.
No hot water
This may seem like it’s too obvious, but one of the most common problems homeowners experience is that there is no hot water available when they turn on the taps.
This could be caused by a number of things: an issue with the heating element, a pilot light out or even the gas connection. The answer may be obvious when you go to look at it, but you should still have your water heater inspected by a professional in order to make sure it doesn’t keep happening.
Leaking Hot Water Tank
Any time it comes to dealing with water, homeowners can be worried about leaks happening and damaging their home.
An old hot water tank can leak as it wears down over time. When water tanks get too old, the bottom can rust out, allowing all the water inside to leak all over your basement floor. To make matters worse, the water valve to the tank will remain open, meaning water will continue to leak all over your basement.
The lifespan of a hot water tank depends on the type of water in your neighbourhood, the tank’s quality, and the climate and altitude of your city. Having the hot water tank inspected by a local professional will help you know best when to replace your tank.
A faulty temperature and pressure relief valve
We all love hot showers, but how hot is too hot? Water that is too hot can cause harm to you and your family, so you want to make sure there is a limit on the temperature of hot water coming out of the taps.
There is a component called the temperature relief valve on every hot water tank, and it is responsible for ensuring that the hot water is not too hot and won’t burn the person running the water. If this valve fails, you may find the water at a dangerous temperature.
Not enough hot water
There’s nothing worse than getting in the shower, and it suddenly goes ice cold. For anyone who has multiple family members to get ready and out the door in the morning, we all know that sometimes there isn’t enough hot water.
If, however, not enough hot water hasn’t been an issue in the past, then there could be something wrong with the hot water tank itself. It could be that your tank is wearing down and is filling up with scale and sludge.
Foul smelling water
If you get a foul smell every time you turn on the hot water, this could be a sign something is wrong with your hot water tank. It could mean that there is mould or bacteria building up in your hot water tank.
In some cases, a professional could come out to your home and flush the tank so that you don’t get that smell anymore, but it may be better to replace the tank if it does not stay hot enough to kill the bacteria or mould.
Contact Wentworth Plumbing today
If you are experiencing problems with the hot water tank in your Hamilton home – or if it is simply time for an inspection – we are here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a plumber.