Cincinnati Water Heater Repair Service

When leaks spring up, they can cause more than just an annoyance. Leaks are one of the biggest problems with water heaters – both tankless and storage types. Like all moving parts, a lot of different malfunctions can lead to water leaking from the hot water heater.

• Leaking from pressure relief valve. If a consistent stream of hot water is being released from the pressure relief valve on your water tank, the part may be stuck or defective, requiring replacement. Excessive water pressure can also cause leaks here, as pressure sends hot water out of the valve. To fix water pressure problems, it may be necessary to replace the dip tube, flush out the water heater, or supply pipes to remove sediment or replace pipes.
  
  
• Leaks can result from long-term overheating of the heating elements. The heating element in a water heater tank can be covered with sediment from water minerals – at this point, it’s typically best to install a new water heater, as repairing the heating element won’t fix leaks in the outer shell of the unit.
  
  
• Glass liners inside water heater tanks can deteriorate over time, causing leaks and the need for water heater replacement.
  
  
• Pipe connections can also result in leaks around the water heater. Fixing these leaks usually requires tightening connections or replacing bad fittings on the supply pipes and outgoing lines of tank and tankless units.
  

Tank-type water heaters have one very important thing: an anode rod. An anode rod is made from metal alloys designed to prevent corrosion in your water heater. When tank-type water heaters operate, the anode rod sits inside the water. Water minerals react to the anode rod, preventing corrosion to the tank which means that your tank won’t rust out after years of use. The anode rod should be replaced on a regular maintenance schedule, approximately every 5 years.

Heating elements in the hot water tank or tankless water heater normally heat water to a specific temperature setting. If you experience cold water or lukewarm water, issues may be traced to:

• Thermostat malfunctions that mistakenly read the high-temperature limit and trigger the water heater high-temperature cutoff switch before water actually reaches the proper temperature. The thermostat behind the access panel may need to be repaired or replaced.
  
  
• Heating elements have gone bad, often due to overheating from mineral deposits. A bad heating element or electric element in a hot water tank unit can require a new heating element or water heater replacement, and the bad heating element in a tankless model may be replaceable.
  
  
• Heat loss can occur in an uninsulated water heater or pipes. Installing pipe insulation or adding insulation blankets to the tank can deliver higher heat retention to maintain the appropriate heat setting where water heats to your comfort.
  
  
• If the pilot light is faulty, there will be no pilot flame to heat water. The pilot light behind the access panel may be replaced.
  
  
• If a circuit breaker is faulty, there is a lack of power. The circuit breaker may need to be replaced.