You never know just how good something is until you’re suddenly without it.
After a long, arduous day at work and fighting traffic, it’s nice to come home to all of your familiar comforts and unwind. Time to take off your shoes, stretch out on the couch for a bit, and wash the day off.
But when you hop in the shower, especially in the middle of the winter, and turn the hot water knob only to be blasted with a barrage of water from Antartica, it’s pretty jarring and upsetting to say the least.
It’s even more maddening when the water won’t even warm up!
Warm water is one of the modern comforts we’ve grown accustomed to over the years, and when that modern comfort is suddenly taken away from us, it’s never a good time.
Fortunately, just because the water won’t heat up, that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Here at Sadler’s Plumbing and Gas, we’re the crew to call to keep your water heater in good working order so that you can stay comfortable.
What Is A Water Heater?
The warm water in your house doesn’t just come out of thin air. Whenever you need hot water, unless you put it on the stove and boil it yourself, you’re getting warmth from a water heater.
Water heaters are usually comprised of tanks, which store your warm water and usually hold 40-60 gallons of water, a dip tube which brings the cold water from your house into the tank which heats it, the heating element which heats the water, the thermostat which gives you control of the water temperature, and the valves which control the drainage and pressure in the unit.
The water in your home travels through the mainline, but right before the mainline gets near the water heater, the line is divided in two, which serves as the water intake system.
When you turn the hot water on, cold water gets funneled through the shut-off valve and into the dip tube so that it can go into the water tank.
Once inside, the heating element warms the water, sending the warmest water up to the top of the tank where it sits under pressure until new water enterting the tank displaces it, thus sending it through the hot water tap.
Why Isn’t My Water Heating Up?
Warm/hot water is a main part of our everyday lives. Whether you’re taking a shower, doing laundry, or washing dishes, your warm water is coming from the water heater in your home.
When the water heater is going on a downward spiral, you’ll know it due to the lack of warm water. But before you get to the lack of warm water phase, there’s also quite a few indicators that point to some oncoming problems.
For example, if you notice that when you run your hot water, the temperature of the water seems to fluctuate a bit too much, that’s a sign that trouble could be ahead.
If you turn the hot water on and you’re standing there for five, ten minutes just waiting for the water to warm up, then there’s another sign.
Another sign that you may need water heater repair is to be on the look out for is strange rust flakes that show up when you run the hot water.
There are a few signs that water heaters give that tell you when it’s time to seek professional help. Check around the water heater for any cracks or leaks first, and once you’ve ruled those out, then check for any visible rust on the unit.
Whenever the water heater is showing problems, it’s time to give Sadler’s Plumbing and Gas a call before you are completely without hot water due to a broken unit. We can assess your unit to determine if a repair or a replacement is a better option for you.
Benefits of Professional Repairs
In the day and age of the internet and information, there isn’t too much that you can’t do if you are willing to put the time and effort into it.
However, when it comes to your water heater needing repairs, it isn’t the best idea to try to go the DIY route. You want the water in your house to heat properly, and you need to have a properly-working water heating unit.
And if your water heating unit isn’t in tip top shape, your best bet is to hire professionals, like Sadler’s Plumbing and Gas. When we come to service your water heater, we’re bringing professional skill, a great attention to detail, and a strong desire to ensure that you don’t have to go without the comfort of warm water in your home. We offer both repairs and maintenance on your current unit, and also installation of a new unit if it’s time to replace the old one. Give us a call today if your water heater is showing any signs of possible problems.
