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The appliances in your Arlington, TX home are designed to make your life more convenient and are essential for your day-to-day life. Some appliances are more essential than others. For example, if your dishwasher stops working, you can wash the dishes by hand. If your washing machine or dryer breaks down, you can go to the laundromat. These appliances make your life easier, but you can live without them. There are other appliances that you cannot live without, such as your refrigerator. If this appliance breaks down, the refrigerated and frozen food will spoil, and you won’t be able to keep cold or frozen foods or beverages in your home.

Another appliance you cannot live without is your water heater. This appliance is designed to heat the water stored in the tank, so you will have hot water when you turn on the faucet or shower.

If your water heater isn’t working properly, it will be impossible to perform simple daily household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and showering.

The best way to keep your water heater from completely breaking down is to recognize the signs that you need to schedule an appointment for water heater repair early. If you can detect issues early, you can prevent an inexpensive, minor repair from becoming a major issue that will be expensive to fix.

If the water heater in your home is experiencing any of the following issues, you should call a plumber specializing in repairs immediately.

#1 You Have No Hot Water

If you turn the hot water on full-blast and it comes out cold, regardless of how long you let it run, you may need to schedule an appointment for water heater repair. You don’t want to spend money on a service call for something that you can fix yourself; therefore, you should check a few issues before scheduling the appointment.

• Electric water heaters: If the water heater in your Arlington, TX home runs on electricity, check the circuit breaker to ensure the circuit hasn’t tripped. You should also make sure that there is electricity going to the water heater.

• Gas water heater: If your water heater runs on gas, make sure the pilot light is lit. You should also check your records to ensure your gas bill has been paid. Finally, check with a neighbor to ensure there isn’t a widespread gas outage.

• Oil water heaters: If your water heater runs on oil, make sure the pilot is lit. Also, make sure you have oil in the tank.

If everything checks out and you still don’t have hot water coming from the taps and showerheads in your home, call a plumber specializing in repairs. The most common cause of this issue is broken heating elements. If the heating elements aren’t working, the water in the tank won’t stay heated.

#2 The Water Isn’t Getting Hot Enough

If you turn on the hot water and it isn’t getting hot enough, regardless of how long you let the water run, you may need to schedule an appointment for water heater repair. Before you schedule the appointment, check the water heater’s thermostat. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that you keep your water heater set to 120 degrees. This is hot enough to perform daily tasks and for your water-based appliances to function properly, and it isn’t so hot that it can cause scalding. If the thermostat is set well below 120 degrees, making an adjustment will solve the issue.

If the thermostat is set correctly, call a plumber specializing in repairs. There are a couple of reasons why the hot water is coming out lukewarm. The first is a faulty thermostat, which is a relatively easy fix. The issue could also be a faulty heating element. If you have just one functioning heating element, it won’t provide enough heat to keep the water in the tank hot.

When you schedule an appointment for repairs, a plumber will inspect the water heater to find the source of the problem so the issue can be resolved.

#3 You Frequently Run Out Of Hot Water

Running out of hot water in the middle of a shower can really ruin your day. If you are running out of hot water often, you may need to schedule an appointment for water heater repair.

Before you make the call, you should consider any recent changes in your hot water demand. For example, there is a new member of your household; your hot water demand will increase. Also, if you recently installed an appliance that requires hot water, such as a dishwasher or washing machine, your hot water demand will increase. If this is the case, you will need to install a water heater with a larger tank. You can also go with a tankless water heater which provides hot water on-demand, so you never run out.

If nothing has changed in your household, you should call a plumber specializing in water heater repair. The most common reason you are running out of hot water is that sediment has built up inside your water tank. Large pieces of sediment in the tank will reduce the amount of space for hot water storage, causing you to run out quickly.

A plumber specializing in water heater repair will inspect your water heater to determine if the issue can be resolved or if you need to have your water heater replaced.

#4 Discolored Hot Water

If the water coming from your taps and showerheads in your Arlington, TX home has a brown tint, it is likely contaminated with rust. This is a serious issue because it isn’t safe to use rusty water.

If the hot and cold water is rusty, the pipes are likely corroded and need to be replaced. If it is just the hot water that is discolored, you should schedule an appointment for water heater repair.

When sediment builds up inside the water tank, it can break up and contaminate the hot water. You should avoid using the hot water until your water heater is checked by a plumber specializing in water heater repair.

#5 Foul Smelling Hot Water

The hot water coming from the taps in your home should be odorless. If it has a foul smell, like rotten eggs, you should schedule an appointment for water heater repair immediately.

The most common cause of this issue is that sulfate bacteria has built up in the tank. When warm water is left in the water tank for too long, bacteria can build up in the water, causing the smell of rotten eggs.

There is another possible issue that could affect how your hot water smells, but it is less common. If you have a water softener in your Arlington, TX home, the soft water can cause the magnesium in the water to break down, which creates sulfate gas in the water heater, causing the hot water to smell bad.

It is best to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair immediately, and it would be best if you didn’t use the hot water until the issue has been resolved.

#6 Poor Hot Water Pressure

Poor water pressure can be a very inconvenient issue. Without adequate water pressure, any appliances that rely on hot water won’t function properly. In addition, simple tasks like washing your hair or rinsing a dish will take longer than they should.

If the hot and cold water pressure in your home is weak, there is likely a leak in the waterline, and it should be repaired as soon as possible.

If only the hot water pressure is poor, the issue lies with the water heater, and you should schedule an appointment for water heater repair.

Over time, sediment can build up in the water tank. When larger pieces of sediment break off into small pieces, it can clog the water heater’s waterlines, resulting in poor hot water pressure. A plumber specializing in water heater repair can inspect the water heater to determine if it can be repaired or if you will need to replace the water heater.

#7 Strange Sounds Coming From the Water Heater

If the water heater in your Arlington, TX home is functioning properly, it shouldn’t make any noise. If you hear strange sounds coming from the water heater, call a plumber specializing in water heater repair. Different issues cause different sounds and will require an appointment for water heater repair.

• Banging: A banging sound signifies large pieces of sediment in the water tank. When the sediment hits the sides of the tank, it causes a banging sound. If you ignore the issue, the sediment can create a crack in the water heater, and the water in the tank will flood your home.

• Popping: A popping sound is one of the most common sounds a water heater makes. When sediment builds up in the water tank, it can stick to the bottom of the tank, trapping the water beneath it. The pressure from the steam bubbles can cause a popping sound, and if you ignore the issue and have an older model water heater, the pressure can build up, causing your water heater to explode.

• Screeching: A screeching sound can indicate a restriction of water flow.

• Sizzling: A sizzling sound could indicate a leak in the water heater, resulting in a major flood.

If you hear any unusual sounds coming from your water heater, you should call a plumber specializing in water heater repair immediately.

#8 Moisture Or Water Pooling Around the Water Heater

If your basement or the area around the water heater hasn’t recently flooded, the area around the water heater should be dry. If there is moisture or water pooling around the water heater, you should call a plumber specializing in water heater repair immediately.

A loose or disconnected water heater hose will cause water to spray around the area. This is a relatively simple and inexpensive fix; however, if you don’t schedule an appointment for a repair right away, the moisture can cause water damage and promote mold growth.

If there is water pooling around the water heater, there is likely a leak, which is an emergency situation. If you don’t call a plumber specializing in repairs immediately, the water in the tank can flood your Arlington, TX home. If there is a crack in the water tank, you will need to replace your water heater.

Why Choose Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Of Fort Worth?

If you need to schedule an appointment for water heater repair and want to work with the best in the business, schedule an appointment with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Of Fort Worth. We are a family-owned business that has been serving customers in the area for years, and our plumbers are water heater experts.

We understand that your time is very valuable, so we don’t schedule appointments with four to six hours windows as many companies do. We will let you know what time the plumber will arrive, and if they are late, we will pay your $5 per minute until the plumber arrives.

We provide a variety of services, including:

• Residential and commercial plumbing installation
• Residential and commercial plumber repair
• Leak detection
• Installation of water filtration systems in homes and commercial buildings
• Installation of conventional and tankless water heaters
• Conventional and tankless water heater repair

We have been in the business long enough to understand that plumbing issues can arise at the most inconvenient time. This is why we offer emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you call for service outside of our regular business hours, we will do our best to get a plumber to your home as quickly as we would if you had called during regular business hours.

Thanks to our excellent service, we have a great reputation in the community and the industry. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating on Google. In addition, Home Advisor has named our company a Top Rated and Elite Service. In 2017, we were the winner of Home Advisor’s Best Of award.

To schedule an appointment for water heater repair or any other plumbing service, give us at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth a call today.