Tips When Troubleshooting Gas Heaters

A gas hot water heater is an indispensable home appliance and it’s pretty reliable, too. However, you just can’t expect it to work properly throughout the years without experiencing a problem or two. Just like other appliances, water heaters do malfunction and get damaged — especially if not taken care of properly. Now if you have a gas heating system at home and it’s not working as it’s supposed to, check out these tips that may help you figure out the root cause/s of the problem.

1. No Water At All

 

If your gas water heater is not supplying you with hot water, it’s possible that there’s something wrong either with its gas pilot, thermocouple or pilot control valve. To fix this problem, simply tighten or reposition the gas thermocouple. If it’s damaged, replacement may be the best option. You can also replace the pilot control valve. If the gas pilot is the one that’s causing the problem, you might need to light the gas furnace pilot.

2. Inadequate Hot Water

 

If your gas hot water heater is providing you with inadequate amounts of hot water, you have to check its dip tube for damage; check the gas supply to the appliance; inspect the plumbing installation to ensure that the cold and hot water lines have not been crossed. You should also consider getting a bigger tank ‘cause if your hot water requirements increased, that means the heater’s storage is already undersized for your needs.

3. Rusty Water

 

If you’re getting yellowish, rusty water from your taps, it only means one thing. The sacrificial anode rod that’s situated inside the tank needs to be replaced already. Remember, when the anode rod gets corroded, the tank will also turn rusty.

4. Foul-Smelling Water

 

If your water smells funny as if they’re rotten eggs, your water heater tank is probably contaminated with bacteria. The water heater tank should be flushed and cleaned with a hydrogen peroxide solution. If the problem continues, the anode rod needs to be replaced as well.

5. Rumbling Sounds

 

If you hear rumbling sounds from the water heater, it’s possible that sediments may have accumulated at the bottom of the tank already. Simply flush the tank to get rid of the sediments and finally get rid of the rumbling noise, too.

Finally, read our recent blog post about the common causes of water heater leaking.

We hope that you have learned valuable tips when troubleshooting gas heaters. If you need professional plumbing help, just call a professional West Palm Beach plumber for water heater service. Plumbers 911 Florida delivers exceptional and affordable plumbing services in West Palm Beach FL including water heater repair, water heater installation, plumbing appliances installation, plumbing fixture installation and repair and other home plumbing services! Call us now at 305-662-0668 (Miami-Dade County FL), 954-468-0512 (Broward County FL), 561-327-6287 (Palm Beach County FL)!

Learn how to troubleshoot the pilot in a gas hot water heater. Watch this video now.