Water heater trouble can manifest itself in a number of different ways, depending on the problem. One of the most common symptoms, though, is difficulty providing enough hot water.
Heating difficulties could result from a number of different problems, some of which are relatively minor and some of which need immediate repair. Let’s go over some of those issues below, and what can be done about them.
Sediment Buildup
Whether you have a hard water problem in your home or not, you still need to be aware that sediment can build up in the bottom of your storage tank over time. The more sediment that builds up on the bottom of the tank, the more insulated the water inside will become from the heat the burner assembly generates. If the buildup becomes significant enough, hardly any heat will be able to make it into the tank. The way around this is to have the tank flushed out by a professional, although you may need to have it manually scraped out if the buildup is severe enough.
Clogged Burner Assembly
The burner assembly is the part of the water heater that is actually responsible for combusting natural gas to generate heat. Carbon particles are created as a natural byproduct of burning natural gas, and will collect on the burner assembly over time. If the burner assembly is never cleaned, the carbon buildup can become severe enough to prevent some or all of the jets from firing on-time. A partially clogged burner assembly will not be able to heat nearly as well as one that is clean, and a fully clogged assembly won’t be able to heat at all. If you think this might be why your water heater isn’t heating properly, you should have a technician clean out the assembly for you.
Broken Dip Tube
This is kind of a strange one. The dip tube is the part of the water heater that guides cold water from the water line to the bottom of the tank. This ensures that water entering the system will heat up faster, and keeps it separate from the hot water leaving the tank. The dip tube is usually made of PVC, which makes it more susceptible to cracking and breaking than other parts of the system. If the tube cracks or breaks, it can leak cold water into the hot water leaving the tank. This will result in sudden temperature fluctuations at the faucet. Replacing the dip tube should resolve the issue.
If your water heater is having issues with providing enough hot water for any reason, you should always call for repairs as soon as possible. The faster you can get a technician to check out your system, the better off you’ll be.
Comfort First Heating and Cooling, Inc. provides a full range of water heater repair services in Joliet, IL. If you need help getting your water heater back into proper operating condition, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professional plumbers.