Common Water Heater Problems May Have an Easy Fix

Schedule Now

Water heating is a basic necessity used practically every day in homes for showering, cleaning and cooking. When there’s a problem with the water heater, finding a solution surely moves to the top of your to-do list. Read on to learn how to troubleshoot water heater problems or to know when contacting Cincinnati plumbing services for water heaters is the best solution.

Temperature Fluctuations

Hot water temperature fluctuations are common in aging water heaters. If temperature fluctuations coincide with unusual popping noises, there’s probably too much sediment and scale buildup in the tank. Draining and cleaning the water heater is required. Once the water heater is emptied and the drain valve removed, the bottom of the water heater can be scrubbed with a long thin brush.

A dirty or failing heating component, such as a dirty heat exchanger or faulty electric element, heats cold intake water intermittently at best. Inspecting, repairing or replacing these parts is generally best left to your Cincinnati plumbing professional.

The dip tube directs cold intake water to the bottom of the water heater. A cracked or broken dip tube causes intake water to mix with stored hot water, which causes temperature fluctuations. When replacing the dip tube, your plumbing pro should also replace the anode rod. The anode rod helps prevent tank corrosion that can cause water discoloration, odors and rupture.

Water Leaks

Water leaks should be taken very seriously. Water leaks either occur at the temperature and pressure (T&P) valve, parts with worn seals or the water heater itself is leaking. If the T&P valve is leaking or dripping, contact your plumber right away to prevent possible catastrophe. Water pooling beneath the water heater signals an imminent rupture of a corroded tank and also necessitates a call to your plumber.

Lastly, leaky seals may leak so little water that they’re difficult to locate. Look for rust and corrosion on the outside of the water heater to identify the leaky part.

If your hot water isn’t so hot these days, please contact Apollo Home Heating, Cooling and Plumbing for top-quality Cincinnati plumbing services for water heaters.

"Ernie & Mike did a superb job on my new furnace and A/C installation. Despite having more than a day’s work to do, they came in and stayed until the job was done. They were organized, efficient, and protected the rest of the house well. Got both furnace and A/C installed the same day. Ernie was courteous, informative, and clearly knew his job better than anyone I’ve encountered before. The units look so good guests now get The Tour of our new system. Apollo is clearly not a fly-by-night company. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a new furnace and/or A/C."
- Jerry A.
"I called Apollo because of a water leak I thought I had in our upstairs shower going into the kitchen. Robbie came and assured me everything was fine & looked at all the other plumbing. He ended up changing a few pipes for our washer & clearing a drain. He was very nice & knowledgeable with all my questions. I ended up signing up for the care plan & was very happy with my service."
- Cassandra B.
"The team at Apollo exceeded my expectations. As a business owner, my attention to the details and commitment to providing excellent service is high. From the sales rep. to the installation team, everyone’s performance was outstanding. For example, the installation team went to great lengths to protect our floors, placing floor runners and across the wood floors and up the stairs. They even were spot washing walls upon their departure. I highly recommend this company."
- Randy B.
"We scheduled an estimate AND a tune-up. We knew something was wrong with our furnace, but hoped we could make it through the rest of the season. Upon telling Bill what our furnace was doing, he warned us immediately what the possible outcome was going to be; a cracked heat exchanger. He watched the flames roll backward, tested carbon monoxide levels, which were so high they meter’s last reading was 5,600 before saying “high”. He immediately shut it down, tagged it, and explained that with levels that high and children in our home he wanted off right away. He continued his inspection and showed us via a camera that not only was it cracked in multiple places, but had holes all over it. He gave us a few options for repairing it; his knowledge as well as genuine concern was beneficial and refreshing. Luckily we also scheduled an estimator, Micah, to come too and we were able to get costs between repairing and replacing (with several options). We decided to replace with a much higher efficiency furnace and one sized properly to our home. Hands down, not only did they both provide us great service and knowledge, but without sounding dramatic, they may have saved our lives. This was our first time calling Apollo, but it won’t be our last."
- Sarah B.
"Apollo is an excellent company. I always receive great service. Alex A. was professional and friendly. He kept me informed during the process of checking my furnace and heat pump to make sure they were working properly. The company makes sure you are notified who is coming and when they are on the way. All my interactions with the company have been wonderful."
- Beverly S.
    Image

    Financing

    Image

    Apollo Care Plan