Electric water heaters are one of the essential appliances in the house. But when the electric water heater breaks down, it creates a mess. There will be dirty laundry, dishes and moreover dirty you! Nobody wants to do the dishes with cold water or have a cold water bath, right? So what to do when your electric water heater is not ready to heat water or is heating up the water too much? Well, for water heater repair you can always call the experts.

But before you call for an electrician, why not try a few troubleshooting techniques? Generally, the problem is not as big as it seems. And identifying the problem of the boiler will provide a better approach to the solution. So, here are a few problems that you might face with your electric water heaters. If one of them is yours, read on to get the best solution and also know when to call the experts in London or around the UK.

Water Heater Problems

An electric water heater is a convenient appliance that heats water with the help of electricity. But how does it do that? Basically, it has heating elements installed to heat up the water. It also has a thermostat to control the usage of electricity. Other than that it has various parts and accessories to heat up the water with the help of electricity.

Generally, when a water heater is not working, the electricity supply needs to be checked. Also, if you notice that the electric water heater is not working properly, you should switch off the mains of the heater. This helps in confining the problem and not escalating it.

And now, coming to the point, the general water heater problems are:

1. Not heating water
2. Heating the water too much
3. No current detected by the heater
4. Excess or no travel of water through outlet/inlet pipes.
5. Fuse box tripping

These are some of the general problems that an electric water heater may face. Besides this, there may be certain noises that arise from the heater leading to some emergency problems; in that case, you need to call in the experts.

Thus, we have created a list of problems and solutions to give you a better understanding of the situation. But if you think, you need help, immediately call the professionals. Because electricity and water heaters are hazardous things to experiment with!

Leaks from Water Heater

A water heater leaking problem may be related to the plumbing system or the electric heater tank or pipes. It is very essential to prioritize and solve the leakage problem as it can damage property and appliances.

Identify the problem by checking where the leak is being initiated.

1. If it is from the outlet or inlet pipes of the geyser, you need to tighten them with a wrench.
2. If the heater has water leaking abruptly from its walls, you need to check the internal tank for leakage. For this, switch off the current, empty the tank through the valves and carefully open the heater covers. Also if you find that the tank is corroded, you need to replace it immediately.
3. If you open the heater by the above process and notice some loose-fitted elements. Immediately tighten them with the help of an electric wrench.
4. Other than that, check all the plumbing systems in and around your electric heater.

Nonetheless, please cross-check all the pipes and valves for tight and proper fittings, as leakage problems can get bigger than you think.

No Hot Water

Not getting hot water from the electric water heater is an annoying problem. Plus, the checking of the problem leads to a lot of water loss. But sometimes this problem can be solved easily with little or no professional help.

The main issues with the electric water heater that does not heat water can be:

1. No electricity supply
2. Faulty heating elements
3. Tripped switches

There may be other problems too, but these are the most evident problems for no hot water coming from a heater.

To detect the problem, first, check the electric limit switch. If it is tripped, try switching it back on.

If the switch is not tripped you need to reset the heater button on the electric heater. For this, you need to switch off the electric supply and remove the access panel and electric safety guard to reach the reset button. Be sure to be very careful while performing this action. Press the red button and put back all the guards as they were. Then switch on the electric supply.

Another problem may be faulty heating elements. If the electricity supply is all good, you may need to replace or repair the heating elements of the heater. Check for corrosions or excessive usage and decide accordingly.

Too Hot Water

Too much hot water is frustrating and well as dangerous. When the water flow gets too heated, determining the problem also gets difficult. But the solution can be determined easily. The main reason for the water heater giving out too much hot water is generally due to the setting of the thermostat.

If the thermostat is set too high, the water heater will give out too much hot water.

These are a few steps to fix the too hot water problem.

1. Cut off the electricity supply from the supply panel.
2. Carefully remove the access panel, insulation, and plastic panel guards. Ensure that you are not touching any wires.
3. Once you are confirmed that there is no electric supply, check the thermostat temperature.
4. The temperature of both the thermostat should be set anywhere between 115 to 125 degrees.
5. If you detect the temperature is on the higher side, adjust it to the recommended temperature using a flathead screwdriver.
6. Install the access panel, insulation, and plastic panel guards back together.
7. The too hot water problem should be solved immediately.

You can initiate this process if you have some experience working with electrical appliances. But if all this is new to you, hiring a professional from one of the top-rated water heater repair agencies in London, UK would be an ideal thing to do.

Issues with Electrical Heating Element

Generally, a water heater has two electric elements. The upper element and the lower element. The lower heating element is considered damaged if there is a constant supply of lukewarm water. And the upper heating element is damaged if there is little or no hot water supplied by the heater.

However, if the element is damaged it requires technical and mechanical skills to fix it. When you detect an issue with the element of the water heater, it is better to call a water heater service to get it fixed. This is because they will have a better idea of what is wrong with the element, like, whether it needs replacement or repair.

Water Heater Wiring

The water heater wiring is an extremely delicate issue. It needs to be handled with care, caution, and safety. The circuit that connects the electrical system should be a 30 amp switch. Always remember that an electrical heater requires a 240 amp dedicated circuit, and this circuit should not be connected to any other electrical appliance in the house.

Now, the water heater connects to two wires- brown(red) and blue(black). Thus, the brown circuit wire connects to the brown wire lead on the heater and the blue circuit wire connects to the blue wire lead on the water heater.

You should wrap electrical tape around the wire to indicate that it is a live wire. Because a 240-volt circuit carries live current in both the wires.

Remember water heaters have internal wirings to elements and thermostats. When a water heater is been opened by a less experienced person, these wires should not be affected or touched at all.

When Should You Change an Electric Water Heater?

An electric water heater is an appliance that should not need frequent replacement. And, if the purchase and installation are from a trustable brand, the water heater will last 10 years, on average. But if you need to maintain it and make changes, go for immersion heater replacement through the years for it to sustain.

Also, the water heater is an intelligent device. It will start showing signs of replacing if you notice it properly. Some signs that show that your electric water heater may need replacement are:

1. It’s been a decade
2. Bad maintenance
3. The water heater is not venting out hot water under any circumstances.
4. Your electricity bills are shooting sky high
5. There is a bad odour or red colour in the water.
6. Signs of corrosion
7. No matter how much you repair the heater, it has stopped functioning.

These are the red signs that show you need to replace your current water heater with a new one. It might look like a huge investment but it surely will be worth more than the repairs on the old one.

Water Heater Burner Troubleshooting

If you have a gas water heater installed at your home, there may be some common problems that the water heater burner may develop. Generally, it is advised not to open or inspect the water heater cylinder, burner or flame without professional supervision, but here are some issues that can be resolved by you.

1. If you notice a gas odour, shut off the gas valve as there are chances that the gas is leaking.
2. If there is no hot water, check that the gas valve is on and allowing gas to pass to the burner.
3. If there is inadequate heating, check for clogged vents in the burner and gas pipe.
4. Follow the exact procedures to light the pilot, else the burner will not light up.
5. Always check the thermocouple for problems. If the thermocouple is faulty, there may not be proper gas flow to the burner.