Your Hot Water Heater

If you are having problems with your hot water heater, you know how difficult this can be. How would you like to take cold showers or not be able to properly wash your dishes? Well here are some tips which can help you avoid some of these problems.

Common problems with a hot water heater can include a leaking tank, not enough heated water when you need it, water that is too hot or too cold, funny noises coming from the tank or discolored water.

Most of these hot water heater problems are easy to diagnose and can be taken care of if you understand what is causing the problem and how your water tank operates.

The most important thing to note is that if your water tank is no longer producing hot water and you smell gas near the tank, then the pilot may have gone out or there may be a gas leak.

If this is the case you should not try to fix the problem yourself. Many utility companies will send out a trained technician to diagnose and repair the problem. Or you may have to call your plumber who can also diagnose and solve the problem.

Other problems may require that you flush and clean out the storage tank. This can typically be completed by the homeowner but it is advisable to find detailed instructions before proceeding.

You can find a lot of helpful repair resources on the Internet. This can help you to diagnose and repair many of the most common problems you may encounter with your hot water heater.

In this way you can get it repaired quickly and cheaply and avoid having to bring in an outside plumber.

In most cases though, calling in the professionals to help you sort out the issues your water heater is having is usually the best call.  Never open your water heater’s panel and tinker around. There’s high voltage electricity that runs through and you don’t want to electrocute yourself. Just let the professionals, who can recognize certain dangers, come in and assist you.

Simple Plumbing Checks

If you’ re like most home owners, then you, in all probability, regard your residence as one of the most significant investments made in your life. With that said, it is only logical for you to want to defend and shield that investment from any peril or impairment. Well, water is probably the most essential element in our life but can cause lots of damage when it comes to a home. This is why proper plumbing and maintenance is so very important to the existence and quality of your home.

It doesn’t sound too daunting to have a small insignificant leak of moisture inside of your home, however, like the Chinese used as a weapon of torture, a small drop of water over a long period of time can do relentless damage to your home. Just a gradual amount of water can damage paint, it can encourage mold buildup, it can rot wooden beams and trusses, saturate insulation, short out wiring and encourage rust; the list is endless.

There are, however, many steps you can take in preventive maintenance for your plumbing. It is recommended that you have some sort of working knowledge before you tamper with your own plumbing. If you’re unsure about anything related to plumbing then the best way to go is to call in a professional plumbing contractor. You don’t want to break what isn’t broken or cause yourself any more inconvenience.

Here are some simple, preventative things that you can do to make sure that your plumbing is up to par:

Look for any signs of leaks from exposed piping around your home. Signs of leaks could include water puddles in and around your foundation to watermarks on your ceiling.

Look for signs of weathering and corrosion on piping. This corrosion would be in the form of oxidation on the piping and if is evident needs to be replaced.

Check your toilets… make sure they are flushing properly.

Check your water pressure – If your water pressure is low there could be sediment build up within your lines or it could even be a sign of issues with your water lines.

Examine your faucets for any leaks.

Inspect your washer and dryer hoses for proper use.

Check your water heater for any signs of leaks or corrosion.

To allow small plumbing issues go unnoticed or not corrected could cause catastrophic damages to your home and your pocketbook. Making sure that you inspect regularly and maintaining all piping and fixtures can greatly reduce your risk of dealing with any plumbing issues. It is clear that enforcing proper plumbing maintenance by yourself or with the help of a professional is necessary for a better quality of life for your home.