Troubleshooting Suburban Water Heaters
The water is running cold at 8 in the morning and you have an important client meeting. What's wrong with the water heater? Water heaters pump cold water into a tank. The cold water is warmed by electricity or by gas. The hot water is stored, then pumped as needed from the device to your tap. Whether your water heater runs on electricity or gas, the components and troubleshooting methods are often the same. Call a professional if you detect a gas leak or faulty electrical device. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Thermostat Troubleshooting
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1
Turn off the power to the unit.
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2
Unscrew the heater access panel using a screwdriver. Turn the thermostat dial counterclockwise using the screwdriver. Test the thermostat if the temperature does not stay consistent to your turning the knob.
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3
Disconnect a wire form the thermostat and touch a multimeter probe to the outlet. Set the multimeter to RX1. The multimeter should read 1 or 0. Replace the thermostat with a unit of the same model if you do not receive this reading.
Leaks and Heating Problems
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4
Examine the fuse box to ensure the unit has power. Look for any circuit breakers that are flipped. Unscrew the fuse associated with the water heater and look at it for breaks. Replace the fuse if necessary.
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5
Inspect the drain valve, relief valve and the tank for signs of leaks. Call a repair technician if any leaks are apparent.
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6
Look inside the tank to see if it is empty. Turn the cold water supply valve to fill the tank if empty. Check over the course of 24 hours to see if the tank drains completely. There is a fault if it drains too quickly.
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7
Look for signs of sediment in the tank. Drain the tank and clean it using a hot water tank cleaning solution, available form hardware stores. Alternatively, clean the inside of the tank with water and dish washing soap.
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References
- Photo Credit plumbing image by Inger Anne Hulbækdal from Fotolia.com
