Water Heater Repair: When To DIY And When Not To DIY

When their water heater starts acting up, many homeowners struggle to decide if they should take the DIY route or leave repairs to a professional. If you are faced with a dilemma, you have come to the right place.

To help you make an informed decision, we discuss some water heater issues that you can try addressing on your own and problems that you should never try to troubleshoot yourself.

When to Troubleshoot Your Water Heater Yourself?

It is usually a good idea to leave repairs to an expert, however, there may be some situations when a repair expert would be unable to tend to your needs immediately (for example, in busy seasons). If such a situation arises, you might consider taking the DIY route.

Note: If you make a mistake while repairing your water heater, it could explode or you may receive the ‘shock of your life, or boiling hot water could fall on you or someone else. Safety comes first. Take the DIY route only if you know how your water heater works and only after taking necessary precautions. If you have no experience under your belt, handling Heating repair yourself is a bad idea.

One of the most common water heater problems homeowners face is their water heater not producing enough hot water or no hot water at all.

If your water heater isn’t producing enough hot water, make sure your household’s water usage hasn’t exceeded your tank’s capacity (can happen when multiple showers are running simultaneously). If you keep running out of hot water, it may be time to replace your water heater.

Your gas water heater could stop working when the pilot light blows out. In that case, reignite the pilot flame. If the pilot light does not come on or reignites but doesn’t stay lit, consult our professional.

If you have an electric water heater and it does not have power, check the circuit box to see if a breaker has tripped or a fuse has blown. Once you have addressed the problem, reset the thermostat.

When not to Take the DIY Route

• Your water heater is emitting weird noises: Unusual water heater noises may indicate sediment build-up. If you hear rumbling, popping, or creaking noises coming from your water heater flush it. If the problem persists, call our technician who will run certain tests to assess the condition of your water heater.
• Your water heater is leaking: If your water heater is leaking, turn off its power supply and close the main shut off valve to stop the water flow before calling up a professional.
• Your water is discolored: Cloudy, orange, or reddish water can indicate excessive mineral build-up or a rusty tank. Our plumbing contractor will thoroughly inspect different components to get to the root cause of the problem

AVS Heating and Air Conditioning is a leading HVAC contractor serving communities in Virginia and Maryland. Whether you need help choosing the right water heater for your home or want to maintain an existing water heater, we have got you covered. To learn more, call (703) 457-9028.