Are you having an issue with your gas water heater? The wind has been picking up lately, and it may just be that your pilot light has gone out. Before you call a plumber, make sure the pilot light is lit. If you don’t know how to check it and relight it yourself, have your plumber show you how. It will save you both time and money!
Is your water heater tripping its reset button? If you push the red button to reset it and it happens again, it is time to call a plumber. There are a few reasons this could be happening. One, one or both of your thermostats could have gone out. This could result in the water becoming dangerously hot. Two, the elements could be bad. At least with failed elements, the water cannot get hot enough to scald anyone. It could also be bad wiring causing an issue and excessive heating. If your reset button continues to trip, call a plumber and get to the bottom of it.
Just because you aren’t getting hot water does not mean you need a new water heater. If your water heater is new or newer there are cheaper repairs that need to be ruled out first. If your water heater is brand new, make sure your thermostat is set correctly. It may need nothing more than to be turned up. If your water heater is electric, check your breaker and make sure you have power to the unit. Your heater has a built in safety device that will turn off the power if it is overheating. Usually, a new thermostat is all you will need to repair the water heater. If your heater is a gas unit, make sure the pilot is lit. If it won’t light, a new thermocouple may solve the problem. Take the time to cross an inexpensive repair off your list before you replace your perfectly good water heater.
If you turn on your faucet and then wait forever for the water to heat up, a recirculation system may be what you are looking for. A recirculation pump installed on your water heater circulates hot water through your house, so there is minimal to no wait time for the water to heat up. You can have a timer installed, so the hot water is only circulated during hours of use or run it full time. Either way, you are saving time, water, and money!
We let you know in December of last year that new water heater regulations would increase your prices while decreasing your options. While of course the government justifies these changes by siting environmental benefits, there will be a cost and for some it will be large. Heaters will be required to have more insulation making them larger which will make it harder to place them in tight spaces. The addition of venting and condensation drains will also be required in some cases and that may make it impossible to put a new heater in its existing place. More skill and knowledge will be required to replace the water heaters of the future limiting the homeowner’s ability to install his own heater. If you would like to learn more you can visit the Department of Energy’s site: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/product.aspx/productid/27.
These regulations go into affect April 16, 2015. We will educate you throughout the year on the different regulations and how they will affect you.
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