How To Troubleshoot Water Heater: Gas Water Heating Systems

Do you have a gas water heater at home? Have you ever experienced issues with it? Just like electric water heaters, gas water heating systems are also vulnerable to malfunction. Sometimes, the hot water that they provide isn’t that hot. Other times, the water is too hot and then there are those instances when the water supply isn’t adequate to cover your demands. If you ever come face to face with these kinds of problems, we highly recommend that you contact a trusted and reliable licensed plumbing professional. We don’t advise fixing water heater issues on your own because of the risks entailed with this plumbing job. However, we would like to give you some tips on how you can troubleshoot or figure out the root cause of the problem so that you’ll know what to say when you call your plumber. Check out our troubleshooting tips below!

1. No Hot Water

If you’re not getting hot water from your faucets and showers, you should first check the gas water heater’s pilot it. Find out if it is lit up. If it isn’t, it means that the water heater isn’t getting warmed up because gas is not being supplied to the appliance.

2. Water Not Hot Enough

If the water coming out of your fixtures isn’t hot enough, you should check with the thermostat first. The thermostat controls the temperature of the heating system so if it’s not working properly, then water won’t be heated properly. It’s also possible that you have a clogged vent or flue which will result to inadequate heating as well. Lastly, another culprit is the lack of a dip tube. This tube is responsible for sending the cold water to the bottom of your gas water heater’s tank. Without it, the cold water will mix with the hot water.

3. Water Heater Not Warming Up

The pilot light is very important to a gas water heater. It ignites the gas that heats up the water inside the tank.  If the pilot light is damaged, the water heater won’t function properly. Another thing that should be checked is the gas valve. If the valve is damaged, gas won’t go to the pilot light or burner at all thus, the appliance won’t heat up as well.

4. Pilot Light Doesn’t Stay On

If the heating system’s pilot doesn’t stay on, it indicates a bad thermocouple, a bad gas valve or a clogged vent. Basically, gas isn’t ignited consistently because the thermocouple that turns the gas on isn’t working or because gas isn’t going to the pilot light or burner. Either way, a professional plumber is the right person to contact to solve this problem.

5. Water Is Scalding Hot

If the water that comes out of your fixtures is scalding hot, you should have the thermostat of the heater checked. There’s a big chance that it’s already damaged.

6. Main Burner Malfunctioning

If you ever notice that the water heater’s main burner doesn’t stay on, it’s possible that the thermocouple is damaged. Other possible culprits include a bad gas valve or a clogged vent. Like a pilot light that won’t stay on, this problem has something to do with the inconsistency of gas supply to the heater.

7. Rusty Water

Your gas water heater tank has an anode rod inside that protects the tank from corrosion. If the anode rod is already worn out, then it won’t function as effectively anymore. The anode rod should be replaced immediately to get through this problem.

8. Water Heater Recovers Slowly

If your heating system finds it hard to recover fast, you should have your vents checked for clogs or debris. The vent is responsible for getting rid of the fumes that result from gas burning. Thus, if the vent is clogged, the fumes won’t have anywhere else to go.

9. Leaking Pressure Relief Valve

The pressure relief valve is your water heating system’s safety feature. It simply relieves or allows pressure to escape from the tank to prevent it from getting way too hot or worse, exploding. If the valve leaks, it should be replaced immediately by a licensed professional.

10. Leaking Hot Water Heater

If you notice water pooling at the bottom of the tank or coming out of the supply pipes, you should turn the water heater off and call your plumber right away. There are many things that may leak on your heating system such as fittings, supply pipes, pressure valve or the tank per se. A licensed plumber knows how to put a stop to the leak with ease.

We hope that you learned how to troubleshoot water heater through our blog today. If you are in need of an emergency plumber in Alexandria, just call Plumbers 911 Washington DC. We will refer you to the right professionals who deliver exceptional water heater installation in Alexandria, water heater repair in Alexandria, leak detection in Alexandria, bathroom remodeling in Alexandria and many more! Call us at (877) 932-5325 to schedule a service!

Meanwhile, watch our video below to find out why we’re the right company to call for water heater repairs!