How to Identify & Avoid a Water Heater Emergency
Statistics indicate that in the United States, only one in five homeowners perform regular water damage prevention, including water heater maintenance.
Most Americans underestimate the damage a water heater emergency might cause, estimating it to be around $5,000 when it is much more costly at $10,849.
At Boss Plumbing, many Los Angeles homeowners don’t realize that neglecting preventative measures might mean their homeowner’s insurance claim could be denied in a water heater emergency.
Unfortunately, they learn this hard truth when submitting their damage claims.
But this doesn’t have to be the case.
There are ways to avoid a water heater emergency and prolong the life of your appliance.
Do I Have a Water Heater Emergency?
Our water heaters are essential for everyday life. From cooking and cleaning to bathing and washing, these appliances work an average of 4-6 hours daily. They are truly worth their weight in gold!
Though Boss Plumbing does offer a range of water heater services in Los Angeles, as a part of our superior customer service, we try to educate our customers about this valuable appliance.
That includes watching for the signs of a potential water heater emergency, including the following.
Leaking Tank
It might start as a slow, gentle drip you put a bucket under to catch.
However, a leaking water heater tank is the most damaging and costly type of water heater emergency Boss Plumbing sees.
Whether your water heater is electric or gas, a leaking tank is a water heater emergency requiring immediate attention.
With over 40 years of professional plumbing experience, Boss Plumbing can arrive at your Los Angeles home to assess the situation and begin work.
Whether it’s your tank water heater’s connectors, pipes, or screws that require tightening, we have the necessary equipment and experience to complete the job correctly.
No Hot Water
If you have hot water one moment and not the next, or the temperature constantly fluctuates, it’s time; this is what we at Boss Plumbing consider an emergency water heater repair.
It may be that the heating element in your tankless water heater is faulty or that you require a complete water heater replacement.
As a premier provider of plumbing services in Los Angeles, Boss Plumbing will arrive promptly and evaluate the situation.
Strange Noises
Indeed, some noises emanating from your water heater are expected as the liquid expands and contracts when heated.
Our customers often describe hearing banging noises, simply the heating element reacting to the sediment in your water heater tank. Usually, homeowners can troubleshoot this water heater problem and flush their tank out.
But if the noises from your water heater get louder or change, such as going from clanking to popping, rumbling, or banging, that’s when it’s time to call Boss Plumbing. There may be a much more severe or complicated issue affecting the tank.
Questionable Smell or Strange-Looking Water
If you notice that your water has almost a sulphuric smell or appears nearly cloudy, there could be several reasons for this.
The cause could be a dirty anode ray or something else, but it certainly isn’t something we recommend you troubleshoot yourself.
Instead, a water heater repair call to Boss Plumbing will allow our home plumbing experts to identify and solve the problem.
What Do I Do in a Water Heater Emergency?
Regardless of your water heater emergency, you, as a homeowner, should first turn off the water.
Yet many of our customers do not know how to shut down a water heater in such a situation.
It is a straightforward task that most of us don’t think about until we’re standing in two inches of water.
Remember, as soon as you’re done shutting down your broken water heater, reach for your phone and call Boss Plumbing. Allow the Los Angeles area experts in water heater repair to assist you in this emergency.
Turning Off an Electric or Gas Tank Water Heater
If you have an electric water heater, turn the power switch on the tank to the “OFF” position and then turn the circuit breaker to the “OFF” position.
If your home has a gas water heater, turn the gas shut-off valve to the “OFF” position from the tank and your primary gas supply.
You must also shut the water supply off to either unit by turning it clockwise until the valve lever stops.
Additionally, the main water valve to your home must be shut off.
Turning Off a Tankless Electric or Gas Water Heater
Whether you have a tankless electric or gas water heater, locate your home’s circuit breaker switch that controls either appliance. Move it to the “OFF” position for both.
For a tankless electric water heater, shut off the primary water supply to your home. A gas tankless water heater can be closed by shutting off the gas supply to your home.
Both tankless water heaters will need the water supply valve on their respective units to be turned to the “OFF” position.
What is Water Heater Preventative Maintenance?
The purpose of water heater maintenance is not only to avoid a major catastrophe but also to increase the longevity and efficiency of this appliance and maintain its warranty protection.
The maintenance process usually entails an annual water heater inspection by a professional plumber.
The following briefly describes the steps we take as a part of our water heater services inspection.
1. Safety Inspection
Safety first is one of the rules we live by at Boss Plumbing and strive for with every call we answer. One of the first things we do on-site for a water heater inspection is to check for any signs of a gas or water leak.
This includes examining the T&P valve, a safety valve for temperature and pressure.
If your tank becomes overpressurized, this valve can be opened to release the pressure. Without it, a tank with too much pressure but can’t release it will explode.
2. Water Heater Flush
As previously mentioned, sediment can build up in your water heater tank. Not only can it affect its efficiency, but it also blocks your water lines. It needs to be flushed regularly, and the experts at Boss Plumbing can determine that frequency. The buildup is often one of the reasons a water heater will turn itself on and off.
3. Inspect the Gas Burner
As a part of the regular inspection of a gas tank water heater, our Boss Plumbing technicians must examine the burner to ensure it ignites properly, is clean, and its flame burns efficiently.
A faulty thermocouple is one of the most common problems with gas water heaters. Located inside the burner compartment, directly in front of the pilot light, the thermocouple is a safety device that signals the gas valve to stay closed until such a point the pilot light is lit.
If the thermocouple isn’t operating correctly, the pilot light won’t work, and you’ll have no hot water.
4. Inspection of the Anode Rod
The anode rod can be found in electric and gas tank water heaters. Whether made of magnesium or aluminum, it’s designed to protect your tank from rusting. If it is corroded, it can cause several problems for your appliance.
5. Checking Electric Heating Elements
All the heating elements must be checked to ensure they operate correctly in your electric water heater. A faulty heating element may mean you get very little hot water or none at all.
The element can easily be replaced if this is the case with your electric water heater.
Let Boss Plumbing Help with Your Water Heater Emergency
With so many plumbing companies in business today, how do you know who to trust to fix things in a water heater emergency?
Boss Plumbing has more than 70,000 completed jobs. We are your expert for plumbing services in Los Angeles.
Whether you require a simple flushing of your tank or a completely new water heater installation, Boss Plumbing is experienced and trustworthy, delivering a level of plumbing service that is unmatched in Los Angeles.
