How to Troubleshoot Hot Water Systems
Check your hot water system's warranty. This will help you to determine if problems can soon be on the horizon for your system. Warranties provide a good determination on how long a unit will last before problems begin to crop up. Therefore, it is important to be prepared on how to troubleshoot problems before the problems develop.
- Supplies
- Pipe insulation
- Screwdriver
- Garden hose
- Wrench
- Replacement draft diverter
- Aluminum anode rod
- Replacement relief valve
- Make sure there are no pipes that are exposed. If there are any, insulate them. Water can cool in bare piping, causing the heater to fail to deliver the water at the expected hot temperature.
- Check to make sure the water heater is capable of meeting your heating needs. If the water is cool, it may not be the correct size heater for your system. Excessively hot water can also be problematic. If the water is too hot, reset the thermostat to a lower temperature. If the temperate still doesn't regulate the thermostat should be replaced, as scalding water can result in serious burns.
- Listen for boiling sounds inside of the heater. This indicates the tank should be flushed completely. This is caused by water condensing into steam underneath the sediment inside the tank. When this occurs in electric water heating systems, the elements should be cleaned to solve the problem.
- Shut down the heater and the water supply if rust colored water appears from the tap. Drain the tank immediately by turning on the hot water faucets. Flush the tank once it is drained. Refill the tank with fresh water and restart the heater to see if this remedied the problem of rusty water flowing from your pipe.
- Make any necessary adjustments to the pilot flame in a gas-heated water system by turning the screw in a clockwise manner. A change in the amount of fuel used by the heating system can indicate the pilot light has slipped to a higher than necessary level.
- Put in a draft diverter if the gas pilot continues to flame outward. The thermocouple should also be replaced at the same time.
- Replace the anode rod if the heating system has either a gassy taste or smell. These rods draw rust and corrosion and prevent it from entering the water supply.
- Replace the relief valve if the thermostat has become jammed at one setting. This is the valve that provides for the release of pressure if the water becomes too hot. Its main purpose is to prevent an explosion. Replacement of the valve is the only way to equalize pressure within the unit.