Generally, it is easy to tell when you need to call in a professional to repair your water heater. If you have a leak or if you’re not getting hot water coming through your taps, then you’re going to need to call for professional water heater repair in Columbus, IN.
Reaching out to a professional is a good idea because if you don’t have expertise in water heater issues, there’s a good possibility you will misdiagnose the problem, or focus on the wrong area in attempting to find the issue.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the situations in which you’ll have problems with your water heating capabilities, but the water heater itself isn’t the problem.
Problems with plumbing leaks
When you notice pools of water under or around the water heater, it’s a good idea to contact a professional plumber as soon as possible. Many people tend to assume the issue here is a leak in the water heater, and while this sort of leakage may be an indication of a failure in the water heater, it’s also quite possible that the water could be coming from a leaking pipe near the water heater, either in the wall or in the general area. It could even be a slab leak in the foundation of the home, especially if you’ve had a lot of rain recently.
If the problem is with a leaking or broken pipe somewhere between the water heater and your taps, then it could result in you not getting hot water, which would mistakenly cause you to believe your hot water heater is the root of the problem.
Water heater repair technicians will need to carefully inspect your system to determine where the leak is located and how it can be repaired.
Problems with a mixing valve
A broken mixing valve could also result in you mistakenly thinking the water heater is the problem. This valve is used to mix hot and cold water that comes out of the faucets in your home. If you have a mixing valve that isn’t working right, it could result in your faucet not getting any hot water, and lead you to believe your water heater is the problem.
Check and see if your lack of hot water is an issue at just one faucet, or if it’s happening in the rest of the home. If it’s just one faucet, the issue is most likely not with the water heater.
Problems with water pressure
Have you noticed unusually high water pressure? On a water heater, there is a temperature and pressure relief valve, usually on the top of the unit. This is a copper pipe that runs into the closest wall or into a pan at the bottom of the water heater. This valve is designed to be a safety valve if the water heater gets too hot, or if you start to have water pressure that measures too high.
If the water pressure is too high, you may need to install a pressure regulator to keep water pressure at a safe level.
For more information about common problems with water heaters, contact Barr Plumbing Service, Inc. to speak with a professional plumber in Columbus, IN.