Plumber Tips To Treat Your Water Heater Right | Granbury, TX

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Ask any plumber in the greater Granbury, TX area what they spend a lot of time helping their clients with and most will respond with water heater repair or replacement. A lot of homeowners underestimate the importance of a properly functioning water heater in their home, but all it takes is for one thing to go wrong and they quickly realize that their water heater is not the appliance to skimp on.

Your average plumber wishes that you knew how to take proper care of your water heater so that it lasts for its full lifetime and possibly even beyond. Proper maintenance and proper attention to problems related to the water heater are the two best ways to make sure that you get the full lifespan out of your heater. It doesn’t take much for a water heater to malfunction but with proper maintenance, it hopefully never will, or at least not until it is at the end of its life.

While water heater maintenance is one important component of keeping your water heater up and running there are many other things that you could be doing right now to make sure that this very valuable home appliance is well protected within your house. Most plumbers would prefer that your water heater never leaves you stranded without water than to find themselves repeatedly returning to your home to repair the same broken heater. Sometimes the things you were doing in your home or potentially ignoring may be the reason that you don’t have hot water when you wake up the next morning.

At the same time, it is important to realize when the time to replace your water heater has arrived. There are only so many things that can be done to repair water heaters because rust is something that cannot be avoided long-term. At a certain point in every water heater’s life, the choice to replace the unit becomes undeniable. Your goal and most likely the plumber’s goal who are working with you is to make sure that you replace your water heater on your terms instead of when there’s a flood in your basement or rust in your water.

Throughout the following, we will take a closer look at what you can do to help keep your Granbury, TX water heater working at the top of its ability. We will also take a look at the benefits of water heater maintenance as well as some of the definite signs that you need to start thinking about water heater repair. Like most things, being prepared for the eventuality that you will need repair or replacement is the best way to keep either of those things from happening anytime soon within your home.

How to Keep Your Water Heater Working

First of all, you need to be aware that there are many different kinds of water heaters. Some people have electric heaters which can be beneficial if you don’t want to deal with a gas hook up while other people use gas heaters. Gas heaters tend to be less expensive than their electric counterparts, but there are differences in efficiency and they do vary depending on the type of heater that you have in your home. Both of these heaters should be flushed out as part of a regular water heater maintenance plan which will reduce the amount of sediment that gathers in the bottom of your tank and causes rust. Keep in mind that only a licensed Granbury, TX plumber should handle this task to avoid flood damage as 40 gallons of water is much more than you probably think.

There are also other options besides the traditional tank water heater that works on the principle of heating stored water. For instance, some homes also have a tankless water heater which is able to keep water on demand and is known for being less space-consuming. Tankless water heaters also will not run out of hot water when used excessively which is very appealing in homes where there never seems to be enough hot water to go around in the morning. Some homes also have a highbred heater that uses a combination of electricity and the heat pump in the room to heat water and help save energy to reduce our carbon footprint.

It is important to know that all types of water heaters can benefit from maintenance and to identify what you have so you know what issues you should be looking at in the future. For instance, tankless water heaters are much less likely to experience problems with sediment build-up and rust than their standard counterparts. However, if you lose electricity in your home they will stop working, unlike gas-powered water heaters which will continue to provide hot water even when the electricity is out.

The model that you own will play a large role in the type of maintenance that needs to be done and how often. However, most plumbers will recommend that you have your water heater looked at by a professional at least once every year. This will help maximize the efficiency of your water heater while also helping to extend its lifespan. Given the cost of a water heater, hiring a Granbury, TX plumber once a year to come out and take a quick look is definitely better than replacement.

Signs You Need Water Heater Repair

Another great way to lengthen the lifespan of your water heater is by noting any signs that your water heater needs repair and then contacting a licensed plumber as soon as possible. In most cases the quicker you are able to get a repair finished the less damage it will do overall to the unit which is why it helps lengthen the lifespan. Damages can easily be cumulative which means that if you let one thing go or ignore an issue it will blow up into a much larger one.

In addition, there are some issues with water heaters that cannot be fixed by even the most skilled plumber in Granbury, TX. Once there is a crack, a leak, or rust formed on the bottom of the tank you will have no other choice but to replace your entire water heater. Fixing things such as excess pressure, sediment buildup, or a leaky valve before things get to that point is your best bet for sticking with the same water heater and avoiding surprise plumbing bills from your local plumber in Granbury Texas.

Here are a few of the most common signs that your water heater needs to be repaired. If you notice any of these within your home make sure you call a plumbing company right away.

Hissing or Whistling Noises

While you don’t want to hear any noises coming from your water heater, hissing or whistling are two noises that you really don’t want to hear. This is because they both often point to pressure issues with your water heater that can actually be dangerous. A hissing noise might mean that too much pressure is building up inside of your water heater and a whistling noise could indicate that there is a crack the air is escaping through. Even more worrisome might be that there is a gas leak if you have a gas model, which is why if you hear any of these noises you need to call a plumber right away.

It is also not a bad idea to turn off your water heater until you speak with a plumber and get more detailed advice. While it does not happen too frequently, water heaters have been known to explode which leads to a potential burn issue and large amounts of flood damage that will quickly ruin your property.

Inconsistent Water Temperature

When a water heater is not working properly one of the number one things that we hear about is inconsistent water temperature. This can happen for a number of different reasons. The first reason that you may notice this is because the heating coils are covered with sediment. This means that not all water is able to be heated the same and you end up with hot and cold spots which is why your shower can feel great some days and a bit mediocre other days.

This can also be caused by a heating element that is not working the way it should be or due to a faulty thermostat on your water heater. You can always check your thermostat to make sure that it did not accidentally get bumped, but if you check it and still have this issue then there is a greater chance that you need to call a plumber to come take a look.

Hot Water Always Running Out

The number one problem that people notice when their water heaters start to fail is that the hot water is constantly running out. This is usually because the sediment impairs the entire tank from getting adequately heated which means when you start a shower you receive the hot water at the bottom of the tank, but by the time a few minutes pass you only have lukewarm water followed by cold water. If it seems you cannot even get a full shower in without racing the clock, then you need to have your water heater checked. You should comfortably be able to enjoy a 20-minute shower in most homes if your water heater is working properly.

Inconsistent Water Pressure

Finally, inconsistent water pressure indicates that something is impeding the flow of water from your water heater to your sinks/water fixtures. In most cases, this is also caused by a build-up of sediment, but water pressures have a variety of causes. If you notice inconsistent water pressure from both your cold and water taps then you need to talk to a plumber to help identify the source. However, if the water pressure is only an issue with your hot water then you probably have your answer already.

When Is It Time for Water Heater Replacement?

As noted sometimes there is nothing you can do, and the smart move is to opt for a water heater replacement. While no homeowner relishes the idea of completely replacing their water heater, hot water is necessary to keep your home functional and at times this will be your only choice.

As noted earlier things such as cracks or rust are irreversible signs that it is time to replace your water heater. However, these are not the only two reasons that you might opt for a water heater replacement in lieu of a repair. You should always speak with a plumbing professional so that your options are well presented but sometimes you need to consider the age of your unit before making any repairs.

Most plumbers will advise that if your unit is over 10 years old it is not useful to make any further repairs on it. This is even more true if the repairs will be costly because at that point it is likely that your unit will need to be replaced soon. Therefore you don’t want to put any more money into a unit that is starting to fail when you could put it towards buying a new unit that will last another decade instead. Keep in mind that the lifespan of your water heater is based on the type of water heater you have which is another reason why speaking with a plumber who knows your exact situation is always the best way to proceed.

If you are facing issues with your water heater and need a plumber, or are thinking about the value of a water heater service, then Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth can help. We work with many clients in Granbury, TX, and have helped a lot of your neighbors with their water heaters. Our plumbers are all highly trained, certified, and licensed. Give us a call today to talk about what is going on with your water heater and we will get a plumber there to help.