Hot Water Heaters Section
Gas Hot Water Heater Repair
Anyone who is not qualified to repair hot water system should not repair these appliances.
However, it is understood that under some circumstance emergencies arise and tradesmen may not be around.
It is difficult to wait for hot water for more than a day. Therefore, in certain situations owner repairs can be justified.
However, in most cases gas hot water heater repair is a domain for a licensed plumber.
You can be prosecuted if your hot water system causes damage while it was not serviced by a licensed professional.
The price of repair by a licensed plumber varies between $180-$2000+ depending on the severity of the problem. Generally $160/hour is an acceptable deal.
Gas hot water heater repair when there is no hot water
This is a common problem. The water supply is there but the temperature is low.
The most common issue is a pilot light. You do not need technician to light up the pilot light.
There is always an instruction at the back panel of the hot water heater on how to start up the pilot light.
In most cases you press the knob and keep igniting a sparkle.
After pilot light is ignited, the knob is released and the thermostat temperature adjusted. This usually solves most of the problems.
However, there could be loose or defective thermocouple or a broken control valve.
Fortunately, these units are very simple to replace.
Remember, when you undertake gas hot water repair you always turn gas pilot control valve to "pilot" settings and shut the supply of water to the water heater.
Gas hot water heater repair when there is not enough hot water
This is often caused by the over usage of hot water.
Sometimes increasing the temperature may resolve the issue otherwise a larger storage hot water heater is needed.
In more serious cases the crossed connection can exist. The hot water bypasses the outflow because of a leak or constriction.
In the case of faulty connection, you should replace defective washers and pipes. Always ensure to use the recommended parts.
Finally, the burner itself can be faulty. In this case a professional should service the unit.
Gas hot water heater repair when there is a rotten egg smell
This is caused by a bacteria which accumulates in the tank from decay of anode. The common solution is to flush the hot water heater. Other methods include treating the storage tank with hydrogen peroxide solution or just replacing a defective anode.
Gas hot water heater repair when there is a leak around the base of heater.
There could be number of reasons for this problem:
- Faulty relief valve
- Corrosion
- Overheating and excessive pressure
Firstly, the thermostat settings need to be reduced. This will eliminate overheating and reduce pressure. Corrosion and faulty parts may unfortunately force the owner to purchase a new heater. In these cases the price for gas hot water heater repair is often higher than the cost of a new unit.