Vancouver Water Heater Trouble Shooting

Common Water Heater Problems

I install a lot of water heaters in Vancouver and for the most part, they are pretty reliable. Unfortunately, even the best tanks break down or need trouble shooting. Many Vancouver water heater service-calls I get are similar and fairly easily diagnosed. Even if you are going to call a plumber it is good to have an idea of what the problem might be.

Honeywell Thermocouple

The most common call I receive is "no hot water" due to a gas water heater's pilot light not staying lit. Although this could be indicative of a bigger issue such as a bad gas valve, usually the thermocouple is simply warn out and requires replacement. Thermocouples are cheap and readily available at home hardware stores like Home Depot for about $10. Many times, if there is a safety switch on the tank, like a temperature cut-off switch, it may need to be reset.   
Once the gas tank is lit, it is a good practice to inspect the flame. It should be bright blue with a yellow tip.

Thermostat & High Limit Switch

When an electric tank has no hot water, a good place to start is the high limit switch. The high limit is the red button found behind the cover for the upper element, it can be reset by simply pressing it. This may indicate something has gone wrong somewhere else on the tank. If the high limit has not been tripped but there is inadequate or no hot water the problem could be with one of the tank's thermostats or elements. 

Determining which of these needs replacement is a matter of testing for power at the thermostats and continuity of the elements. It is generally good practice to have a thermostat replaced along with an element.     

 Another scenario that may result in inadequate hot water is if the cold dip tube breaks inside the water heater. This results in cold water mixing with warm water near the top of the tank. The dip tube is a removable part which can be unthreaded and replaced.  

Although it is important to have an understanding of water heaters, most work should only be performed by certified technicians. Preforming repairs that are beyond one's comfort level can be potentially dangerous plus void the manufacturers warranty.  

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver

Vancouver Water Heater - Does anybody really flush their hot water tank?

     If you live in a Vancouver or Burnaby home then chances are you have a hot water tank. Have you ever drained and flushed your water heater? I don't think so, but if you have my hats off to you. Dollars to doughnuts most people wouldn't think twice about their tank unless it interfered with their morning shower.

None the less you really are recommended to drain and flush your tank as part of regular scheduled maintenance suggested by the manufacturer. The reason for this size-able request is to keep your tank running swimmingly by removing foreign sediment. This debris can cause unruly noise, inefficiency and may reduce the overall lifespan of the water heater. Since replacing a water heater is a financial burden most of us would like to avoid, maintenance is not a bad idea but there are a few considerations.

You want to bear in mind the age of your water heater and if it has been sitting undisturbed collecting a substantial layer of sediment on the bottom of the tank. This could make draining it problematic. Too much sediment could clog the hose bib and make re-closing it difficult. Trying to unclog a tank full of scalding water by putting a wire up through the hose bib has the potential to be dangerous. If the hose bib needs to replaced and is made of plastic may it could snap leaving the threads behind.

Choosing to drain and flush your tank is a good idea if you have assessed your fixture and feel comfortable doing it. It would be best to start the scheduled maintenance if your water heater is new, but if it is an older tank that has never been maintained it might be better left alone.

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver