When you think of plumbing fixtures/appliances around the house that you use on a daily basis, which ones come to mind first? Chances are there could be a wide variety of answers, but one that I could almost guarantee you use on a routine basis is the water heater! Whether that be hopping in the shower first thing in the morning, washing the dishes or anything else, hot water is something that you simply consistently need. However, while it serves an immense importance, that doesn’t mean things can’t go wrong with them. In fact, there are quite a few components involved in the overall operation of heating a household’s water and if something were to fail, you’ll likely know it relatively quickly!

If you scroll through some of our prior plumbing-related blogs, you’ll see water heaters mentioned on numerous occasions. From understanding the proper maintenance tasks to analyzing the benefits of tankless models and so on, water heaters are something our technicians work with every single week. Throughout the course of this blog, we’re going to analyze a handful of water heater issues that homeowners find themselves facing from time-to-time. Occasionally, there’s an easy fix for these problems, while other times you may be forced to replace the unit altogether. We’ll touch on a few from both sides of the spectrum today!

Consistently Running Out of Hot Water

Everyone’s likely witnessed this at least once in their life. You’re enjoying a nice warm shower and then suddenly run out of hot water. Well, as you can likely guess, the obvious culprit behind this mishap is probably your water heater. However, the exact reason for the failure can be a few different things. A lot of the time, it is due to your water heater tank simply being too small. Generally speaking, most residential water heaters are either 40 or 50 gallons. However, some larger homes with more people in the household could even use up to an 80 gallon tank or two 40 gallon tanks working together. Another potential cause is that your water heater needs to be replaced due to old age. As is the case with any other plumbing component, water heaters aren’t built to last forever. Eventually, they’ll start breaking down and showing signs of diminished performance, which could include running out of hot water. For most storage tank water heaters nowadays, you can expect to get around 12 years out the unit before it’ll need to be replaced. However, keep in mind that tankless water heaters can easily last 20-plus years.

Leaky Water Heater

If you ever notice a leak or sitting water close to your water heater, it’s important to act on it quickly. In most cases, assuming it’s not a minor issue somewhere, you’re probably looking at a replacement in the near future. Despite that, it doesn’t hurt to do your due diligence to confirm it’s not something that could be easily repaired. A few potential areas to consider include:

  • Inlet Valve – This is responsible for bringing the cold water into your water heater. In some cases, it could be dripping and just need to be tightened. If that doesn’t solve the problem, it could need to be replaced.
  • Fittings – Another potential problem area could be the fittings on your piping above the water heater. If a fitting is loose in any way, this could be causing a leak too. Don’t forget to turn the water shut-off prior to making any repairs!
  • T&P Relief Valve & Discharge Pipe – For those that have read any of our previous water heater-themed blogs, safety and maintenance are two crucial components. And when it comes to invaluable safety features, the “T&P Relief Valve and Discharge Pipe” are near the top of the list. The T&P relief valve is located near the top of your heater, while the discharge pipe runs down the side of the tank. These are installed in case the temperature were to get too hot or the pressure too high. Long story short, it’s something you want working at all times. These can fail due to old age or even just from a malfunction on the valve itself. In any case, if you notice it leaking, it would be wise to get your local plumbing company out there.
  • Expansion Tank – Keeping the theme of safety features going, the expansion tank goes hand-in-hand with a new water heater installation. As water heats, it expands. If this were to occupy more than the entire area of the main storage tank, it’ll need somewhere to go, hence the expansion tank. If you notice a leak around the expansion tank, you’ll want to take note of two areas. First, monitor the piping and fittings leading to the expansion tank. Are these causing the leak? If not and the issue resides with the expansion tank itself, then you’ll likely need to just have that replaced. 
  • Actual Tank – The pieces we referenced above were examples of individual components, but what if the leak is coming from the actual water heater tank. If this is the case, you’re almost certainly going to need a replacement, as the tank has likely suffered from corrosion. 

Sediment Build-Up

What’s the easiest way to ensure you get the maximum years out of your water heater and avoid having to deal with constant repair bills? By following the proper maintenance protocols, of course! Luckily, for the most part, water heaters are pretty low maintenance and don’t require much work over their lifetimes. One of the most effective maintenance tasks you can complete involves doing an annual flush of the water heater. Over time, sediment can build up at the bottom of your tank. This is particularly true for areas with above-average rates of hard water, which happens to include Kansas City! Long story short, as this mineral sediment starts to accumulate, your water heater has to work harder to perform its normal duties. This will lead to the tank itself deteriorating quicker and you having to pay for a water heater replacement earlier than expected. So, to sum it up, yes it is always a good idea to flush your tank at least once a year!

Professional Water Heater Services in Kansas City

If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you’ve likely seen plenty of photos and videos of prior water heater projects our team has worked on throughout the Kansas City area. Since we all utilize our water heaters on a regular basis, even having it down for just 24 hours can be a real inconvenience. Furthermore, as evidenced by this blog post, there are also quite a few areas where you can run into some trouble with your water heater. Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, each of our plumbing technicians are trained to handle any water heater related project. From repairing and maintaining existing units to installing new ones, we have you covered for all of your water heater needs. If you live near the Kansas City area and are interested in getting a free estimate on a potential water heater project, don’t hesitate to fill out the form HERE or give us a call at (816) 348-3481 to speak with a member of our team.