Common Water Heater Problems

It's that time of year again; time to check the water heater for any maintenance issues that may be glaring at you from this side of winter. Sometimes just knowing a few common water heater problems is half the battle, so today, we'll be sharing some top problems that homeowners experience with their water heaters. The good news is that many can be fixed with a bit of handy know-how:

According to Home Addition Plus, one of the most common water heater problems is a pilot light that has gone out and will not relight, or an electrical igniter that will not fire.

Their advice: "Check to make sure that there is gas or oil in the tank and that the fuel valve to the water heater has not been inadvertently turned off. If you are convinced fuel is getting to the water heater, then you will probably need to call a heating repair service to change out the thermocouple or electrical igniter. Thermocouples and electrical igniters frequently fail if they are old and exposed to dust and dirty oil."

In addition to a fuel valve issue, sometimes the heating coil of an electric water heater can be cause for concern as it frequently burns out due to corrosion that occurs inside the water tank. Usually a heating repair service or plumber can quickly replace the heating coil element.

Finally, if your hot water is either too hot or too cold, chances are the water heater's thermostat has either failed, been inadvertently adjusted or has been damaged. Another possibility is that the water heater flue is partially blocked and not allowing proper air flow. For this issue, call your heating repair service; it's a quick fix and should be relatively inexpensive.