Water heaters are dependable appliances that just fail when ignored for long periods of time. Constructed with only a few working components, they seldom cause problems. Yet, they do fail after some years of service and have to be replaced. They are relatively inexpensive as far many household appliances are concerned. If your water heater isn’t working as well as it has in the past, you may want to troubleshoot it by looking at those components most likely to fail.

One sign of an impending problem is a water leak. It had to come from somewhere, and there aren’t too many options. One possibility is that the water heater‘s thermostat or heating elements are leaking, which isn’t very likely.

Possibly the T&PR valve, which releases overheated water is leaking. If the water heater’s thermostat malfunctions, the Temperature and Pressure Relief valve discharges overheated water. The valve protects the water heater by releasing overheated water down the discharge pipe. If the thermostat isn’t the problem, consider the tank.

Check the water temperature for the proper setting. It shouldn’t be set too high. A safe setting for hot water is 120 degrees F. A moderate temperature setting won’t create enough internal pressure to open the T&PR valve.

Once you’ve ruled out the T&PR, the water temperature and pressure, the next step is to check the bottom of the water heater for pinhole leaks. After discovering where the leak is coming from, your tank may require replacing. Consider buying the most energy efficient model you can afford.

The temperature control on a gas water heater could be a problem, as well. In a gas water heater, a thermocouple device controls the pilot light and the water temperature. An inadequate amount of hot water, or warn water instead of hot water, is a sign that the thermocouple isn’t functioning as it should. Thermocouples can be replaced, but if you are unsure of how to do it, consult a qualified technician or a licensed plumber.

With an electric hot water heater, there are heating elements and a thermostat that can cause problems. Typically, these units have an upper and a lower heating element, either of which is likely to fail. Remember to secure the source of electrical power before testing or withdrawing a thermostat. Thermostats are usually more reliable, but they too can fail on occasion. You may want to consult with a service technician or plumber at this point, due to the presence of an electrical shock hazard.

In review, this article presented some easy to follow steps for troubleshooting a gas or electric water heater. Always keep safety in mind when working on your water heater. Hazards around gas and electric hot water heaters include electrical shock, scalding and fire. Unless you are comfortable working around these hazards, consider calling a qualified service technician to service your heater.

I hope this article provided you with the knowledge and understanding you were looking for. You will find more Practical Home Repair articles at Practical Repairs.com