· 3 min read
No hot water: the checks to make before you call anyone
When the hot water stops, the cause is often something you can see and sometimes something you can fix. Work through these checks first, in order, for gas and electric heaters.
Water heaters
How to look after a water heater, the checks to make when the hot water fails, and how to tell when a heater is near the end of its life.
The water heater is the appliance nobody thinks about until the shower runs cold. It is also the one most likely to fail dramatically, since a tank holds forty or more gallons and, when it goes, it goes on the floor.
The habits that make one last
- Flush the tank once a year to remove the sediment that settles at the bottom. Sediment makes a gas heater rumble, makes any heater work harder, and shortens the life of the tank.
- Check the relief valve's pipe runs down toward the floor and is not dripping.
- Look at the base every few months for rust or damp.
- Keep the area around it clear, especially around the burner of a gas heater.
When the hot water fails
Before calling anyone, check the obvious: the pilot light or the breaker, the thermostat setting, and whether the cold water valve into the heater is fully open. On a gas heater, a pilot that will not stay lit usually means a failed thermocouple, which is a modest repair. If the tank itself is leaking, there is no repair. It is replacement time.
Rockland notes
Many houses here are heated by a boiler, and some have their hot water made by the boiler rather than a separate heater. If there is no tank near the boiler, or a small tank without its own burner, ask your plumber which arrangement you have, because the maintenance differs.
What this topic covers
- Flushing the tank, and why it matters
- No hot water: the simple checks first
- Repair or replace, and tank or tankless
Common questions
How long does a water heater last?
A tank heater typically lasts eight to twelve years. The serial number on the label usually gives the year it was made. Past ten years, plan the replacement before it chooses the moment for you.
What temperature should it be set to?
120°F is enough for a household, saves energy, and reduces the risk of scalding, especially for children and older people.
Tips on this topic
· 2 min read
The water heater is leaking: where the water comes from, and whether it is the end
Water around the water heater has five common sources. Two are minor. One means the heater is finished. Here is how to tell which you have, and what to do about each.
· 3 min read
Why the water heater's relief valve drips, and what an expansion tank does
A dripping relief valve is the water heater telling you the pressure is too high. Often the cure is a small tank on the cold water pipe. Here is what is going on.
· 3 min read
Low water pressure: how to work out what is causing it
Weak water at one tap has a different cause from weak water everywhere. A few simple checks tell you which, and whether it is a five-minute fix or a job for a plumber.
Need a professional?
Some jobs are not for a weekend. Here is how to find a plumber near you in Rockland County and check the license before work starts.