Category: Water Heaters

How do I know if my water heater is leaking?

To find out if your Brookhaven water heater is leaking check around the bottom of the tank. Water can leak out of a rusty storage tank bottom, faulty drain valve, or failing temperature-pressure relief valve. Another possibility is that water can leak from the top of the water heater and run down. Either way, if you see water stains or pooling water around the base of your water heater storage tank it is leaking.

What to do if your Brookhaven water heater is leaking?

If you find your storage tank water heater leaking, turn off the water to the tank. Your storage-tank water heater probably has a dedicated shutoff valve on its inlet pipes. Look for a wheel-style knob that turns near your water heater. Turn the wheel clockwise as far as possible. This will turn off the water supply to your water heater. After you turn off the water, call a reputable local plumber like The Plumbers Guild.

How do I know if my pressure relief valve is bad?

Water should never be pouring out of the valve. If your water heater is clacking or emitting a high-pitched shrieking noise, it is typically the sound of steam trying to escape the tank. This noise is a sign that there is too much pressure inside the tank. There is a safety Temperature, and Pressure Relief Valve, also called a T&P relief valve. This valve opens and releases water to relieve excess pressure inside the water heater storage tank.

Why is my water heater leaking from the pressure relief valve?

A water heater temperature and pressure relief valve can leak for two reasons. Leaks happen when excessive temperature or pressure triggers the valve to open or the valve itself is faulty. In the first case, water comes out of the discharge pipe.

What does a water heater temperature and pressure relief valve do?

When your water heater works, cold water fills the storage tank and then heats the water. Hot water flows throughout your home through the hot water pipe or heats continuously in the storage tank. However, sometimes things go wrong. There are times that the temperature of the water within the tank is dangerously hot. In these cases, the temperature and pressure relief valve open. When the valve opens, it drains hot water from the tank, thereby triggering cold water to flow into the tank to decrease the temperature. The other time the temperature and pressure relief valve opens is when there is too much pressure within the tank. When water heats up, it expands. Usually, water heaters hold about 150 psi (pounds per square inch). When the tank’s water pressure exceeds that, the temperature and pressure relief valve will open to release pressure.

The danger begins when homeowners fail to test their temperature and pressure relief valve. A homeowner needs to test their temperature and pressure relief valve every six months to see if water can exit the tank through the valve.  When there is abundant corrosion around the temperature and pressure relief valve, it will not work properly. Homeowners need to have a local plumber replace their temperature and pressure relief valve every five years to assure a definite exit for extra hot or pressurized water. When homeowners do not test and maintain their temperature and pressure relief valve, it can lead to Brookhaven water heater problems.

Why is water leaking from the bottom of my water heater?

Suppose you spot leaking from the bottom of your storage-tank water heater. If your water heater is over ten years old this is common. Without proper maintenance, tank water heaters of this age will accumulate years of sediment in the bottom of their tank. Eventually, the sediment build-up causes corrosive rust that deteriorates the tank. Leaking from the bottom of the water heater happens when rust eats through the tank.

How do you fix a water heater leaking from the bottom?

The most common reason Brookhaven water heaters leak from the bottom is a bad drain valve. When the drain valve wears out you will see water seeping from the valve near the bottom of the tank. The drain valve will leak when it is no longer watertight. These leaks worsen with time. Contact The Plumbers Guild for water heater repair. Our skilled plumbers will install a new drain valve for you.

Can leaking water heaters be repaired?

If the leak is from the drain valve, the repair is simple and inexpensive. You need a local plumber to replace the defective drain valve. However, when the leak is coming from the tank, you need a water heater replacement. Whether you need a water heater repair or a water heater replacement in Brookhaven, contact The Plumbers Guild.

Brookhaven Water Heaters Need Regular Maintenance

Brookhaven water heaters must be maintained. However, the seriousness of the consequences that result from poor maintenance can not be underestimated. Specifically, failure to maintain a water heater adequately can be fatal. Please read on to understand how this can occur and how to avoid putting yourself and your family at risk.

Why Drain Water Heater Tanks?

Brookhaven water heaters need to be drained several times a year. For homeowners with a traditional water heater with a huge reservoir tank filled with water, you need to drain the gallons of water out of your water heater a couple of times a year. Plumbers recommend doing this plumbing maintenance task every three months. Whether you decide to drain your classic water heater two, three, or four times a year is less important than making sure you do it. Draining the water out of the tank helps to prevent the accumulation of sediment in the tank. Sediment is the mineral deposits and if left alone will build-up in the bottom of the water heater tank. Over time, sediment will build-up, and when it accumulates it wreaks havoc on the water heater.

How to Drain a Water Heater

You should drain all the water out of the tank of your hot water heater at least once every three to six months. Removing all the water out of the tank helps to prevent sediment build-up at the bottom of the tank. This sediment can cause the tank to bang or to heat less efficiently. Drain the sediment from the bottom of your hot water heater twice a year to keep the hot water heater working at best performance levels. When you are ready to drain your water heater tank, simply open the drain valve on the front of the water heater closest to the ground. Open the valve and allow water inside the tank to run out into a bucket or connect a garden hose to let it drain into your yard. Eventually, the water will run clear. When it does close the drain valve.

Why Do Brookhaven Water Heaters Have Mineral Deposits?

The mineral deposits inside Brookhaven water heaters come from the process of heating water. This sediment reduces the energy efficiency of all plumbing equipment and dramatically shortens its life. This type of sediment is extremely common in the Atlanta area. In fact, you can find it in traditional tank water heaters in all fifty states and beyond. In most water heaters, minerals form layers of sediment deposits inside the tank. Yes, every time your water heater heats up water for your bath, shower, washing, or cooking more sediment hardens inside your plumbing. Hardened sediment can cause your tank to produce loud banging sounds. This is in addition to forcing your unit to heat less efficiently as the sediment accumulates. Find out if you need to replace your water heater now or later.

Why Set Water Heaters to 120 Degrees?

Set the temperature on your hot water heater to a temperature that does not exceed 120 degrees. This temperature setting helps to save energy and prevents water from becoming hot enough to scald anyone in your household. Set older models that do not have a degree-level temperature setting on Medium.

Why Try Tankless Water Heaters?

Tankless Brookhaven water heaters appeal to environmentally conscious individuals. Unlike traditional water heaters that rely on a reservoir of heated water that fills in a huge tank, tankless variety of water heaters do not need a massive water reserve. Instead, tankless water heaters only heat water when you demand it. Heating water on demand makes the tankless water heater the choice for energy conservationists and anyone who does not like running out of hot water.

Why Winterize Plumbing?

Winterize your plumbing when your residence will sit dormant and unused for an extended period. During the winter, people winterize their plumbing to avoid an unwanted plumbing crisis like a burst pipe. This is important to do. However, protecting your home against plumbing leaks and floods when your home will be vacant is not only important to do in winter. Spring, summer, or fall, take these measures throughout the year to avoid plumbing issues.

Winterization prepares plumbing in a vacant home for wintry weather, but it can take place at any time of the year. The process involves draining the water from the plumbing system. First, shut off the main water supply. Next, turn on all faucets and tubs and let them drain completely. Drain the toilets, too, and turn off the water under each sink. Drain the water heater. Remember to turn off the gas before you drain it if you have a gas water heater.

Why Check the Water Heater Pilot Light?

You may or may not have a pilot light that you need to support. Figure out whether you have a water heater powered by natural gas, electricity, or by the sun using solar power. A significant plumbing-related decision is making the choice of an electric water heater or a gas water heater. Electric water heaters are more cost-effective especially for small tanked water heaters with lower water capacity.

The pilot is only used in a gas water heater and it is designed to remain lit. Gas water heater owners need to check periodically to be sure the pilot is functional and lit. Look for a bright blue flame with a yellow tip. If you see an all yellow flame call a plumber to be sure your water heater is safe.

Why Avoid Carbon Monoxide?

You should periodically check any pilot light for excessive soot buildup. In a gas water heater, excessive soot buildup can be deadly. It can clog the flue allowing CO or carbon monoxide into your home. To say that Carbon Monoxide is dangerous is an understatement. It is a colorless, odorless gas that kills humans in under five minutes in high enough concentrations.

Why Professional Maintenence?

Water Heater Maintenance by The Plumbers Guild is vitally important. We make sure your water heater is operating safely. In addition, be sure to install CO detectors in your home. Contact the team of experts at The Plumbers Guild today with any questions or concerns or for water heater repair you can count on.