Types of Water Heaters
Scottsdale water heater repairs are our specialty. Our customers know we provide excellent service when repairing their water heaters and have come to expect it from us. It is our goal to not only repair water heaters in a timely manner, but to keep the owner informed and updated on all progress we provide and to offer tips that will aid in keeping their water heaters in pristine condition. This is why we know our Scottsdale water heater repair services are unparalleled.
There are a few different types of water heaters and all of them can be used for different purposes. The standard types of water heaters that exist are gas and electric which are suitable for different purposes ranging from residential, commercial and industrial use. The basic functioning parts of these water heaters are the heating elements, thermostats, t&p valves, nipples, anode rods and the tank itself. These parts interact with the most erosive force on the planet every day (water), but surprisingly have a long operation life if taken care of properly. Because water damages these mechanisms, you can expect, over time, these parts will go out and have to be repaired individually or replaced collectively. Usually, a water heater that is not maintained has a lifespan between 3 – 6 years. If a water heater is maintain, you can expect it’s lifespan to double.
Common Water Heater Problems
The common wear & tear water heaters experience over their lifetime is tank rot, calcium buildup, element & anode failure, and flex wear. A water heater tank rots because the water, over a period of time, removes the metallic particles from the tank itself, leaving the tank thinner and more susceptible to breaking open.
A common side effect which can cause problems with the functionality of water heaters is the formation of calcium inside the tank. You can usually tell when a lot of calcium has built up inside the water heater when you start hearing pounding noises from the water heater. The reason why you hear this is because the heat of the water causes these particles to explode. This calcium buildup is caused by hard water and once inside the tank, is unlikely to be expelled by mere gravity. What happens when calcium is built up inside the water heater is the particles settle to the bottom and layer on top of itself. These calcium particles don’t allow the water heater to fill to its full capacity and also absorb whatever heat the water heater is producing before the water. Because of this, the water heater then has to heat itself more often. So in every case of calcium buildup a tank is less efficient by virtue of less water filling the tank, less water being heated and more cycles of heating occurring.
When certain mechanisms fail on a water heater, the most common problem you will notice is the water heater is no longer producing enough hot water or the heat of the water quickly fluctuates its temperatures back and forth. This is caused because one of the heating devices, usually called the element, has broken. Electric water heaters usually have two elements and when one of them goes out, you will have just a little bit of hot water for a short time. If this problem occurs with a gas water heater, it is most likely caused by the control valve, which if failed will cause the water heater to not heat the water properly, or not work at all.
Sometimes water can smell like rotten eggs, and this isn’t so much a problem with your water but rather a problem with your water heater. This would be a result of the anode rods failing inside the water heater. Anode rods can be changed out, but it is such a rare occurrence that if it ever does happen, it is probably because the water heater is old and you would be a safe to assume the whole water heater should be replaced. What happens when an anode rod go bad is you will end up with water that smells like rotten eggs. The anode rod basically creates an electric current on the inside of the water heater and keeps the ions in a solid state, which prevents that smell from occurring.
There are few things that can actually do damage to your house when a water heater does go bad, but these things can cause legitimate problems and costly repairs. The most destructive thing a bad water heater can do is water damage. If a water heater ever leaks, this water can seep through walls and destroy them, as well as destroy any valuables that you might store next to a water heater, if your water heater was in the garage for example.
Preventive Maintenance
The best thing our Scottsdale customers can do to prevent water heater damage, which can cause high electric bills and other high priced repairs, is to keep up with simple maintenance, which will drastically cut back on how often your water heater needs to be repaired. The first things that should be considered when trying to maintain your water heater is:
- Calcium buildup
- Age of water heater
- Leaks
If your area is known for hard water, even if you have a water softener, you should make sure to drain and flush a water heater at least once a year. This will remove any calcium buildup that can cause your water heater to become less efficient. For gas water heaters, it is not a good idea to keep things in front of the gas valves. Gas water heaters need fresh air to circulate in order to run efficiently and as well to protect against fire hazards. These types of water heaters use gas, and gas is naturally a dangerous substance and so should not messed around with. Also a good thing to consider is to keep an eye on the connections. As connection to the water heater get older, any deterioration that has occurred will show water deposits where they tie onto the water heater and where the flexes go. If that starts to get rusty and corroded and white crusty stuff (calcium) appears on it, it’s time to replace them. This should be fixed as soon as possible before you go somewhere. The worst thing that can happen is for your water heater to burst while you are gone and when you come back your whole house is flooded.
Solutions
The fact remains that proper maintenance of water heaters is an easy way to double the lifespan of your water heater, keep costs involved with water heating significantly down, and to protect water damage. Usually what is involved with water heater maintenance is draining and flushing, inspection of connections and inspection of water damage. This, however, is slightly time consuming and requires more skill and knowledge than what has been provided above. We recommend you examine your water heater system, and if you have noticed any of the problems we have described above, to repair your water heater as soon as possible. For all Scottsdale customers, repairing your water heater is as simple as contacting us here or by calling us at (480) 256-8313. We can set up a service around your schedule and your time preference. Not only will you receive quality plumbing service, but outstanding customer service from our office staff as well. So if you’re in Scottsdale and need your water heater repaired, feel free to contact us at any time.
Scottsdale Plumber | Deer Valley Plumbing Contractors Inc
4400 N Scottsdale Rd Suite 9-303
Scottsdale AZ 85251
(480) 256-8313