‘Tis the season of long waits before the morning shower heats up. Imagine stepping reflexively into it and experiencing a cold blast.
Water lines are underground utilities, and plummeting ground temperatures in winters can drastically affect the efficacy of your residential water heater as the cold-water rushes through. The irony is not lost on our need for more hot water in winters, which outs the heaters into overdrive.
Morton Grove, IL is experiencing negative digits by now, so it’s best to call Bill’s Plumbing & Sewer, your local plumbing & heater maintenance experts, for a checkup. Meanwhile, we have a few things to share that you can expect from a faulty water heater.
1. Disintegrating Insulation
Insulating your pipes from the cold is one thing, but taking care of your heaters is an equally important step to ensuring an endless supply of hot water. As per heater types, neoprene is suited to electric water heaters, while fiberglass & aluminum wraps are best for gas. If it’s been a long stretch since your last water heater checkup, and this coincides with poor water heating, chances are your insulation is disintegrating. That lowers the water heating temperature and racks up energy costs for the season.
2. Faulty Heater Components
Gas heaters are notorious in this category. One needs to monitor the pilot light, the thermocouple, and the control valves. If the pilot blows out, you are guaranteed to get a cold splash. The thermostat and the heating coils are of significant concern in electric heaters. A faulty thermostat will not regulate water heating uniformly, and a heating coil can become encrusted with deposits that could create a hazard.
3. Mineral Deposits
Natural, treated, & filtered water all have minerals in them with some sediment. These substances form deposits in pipes and water heater tanks. They are a pest because not only do they become a contamination hazard in high quantities, but they also compromise the heating capacity of water heaters. And if you have foregone your water heater maintenance too long, the sediment alone can clog your pipes this winter.
4. Rouge Temperature
When we said faulty components, in the case of electric heaters, the thermostat can create a potential chemical hazard that will undoubtedly degrade your heating tank faster. On average, the thermostat regulates water at 120F in water heaters. Any higher and heat will cause the electrodes to flake and dissolve in the water, making it acidic. The acidic water will eat away your tank from the inside. In simple terms, your water tank will fall apart like wet papier- mâché.
If reading this evokes an odd feeling of guilt regarding the state of your water heaters, it’s best to let Bill’s Plumbing & Sewer in on the secret. We will discretely come and remediate that hot mess of a water heater to get you that clear and hot flow every morning as desired.
Check our impressive services in all things plumbing for your home to the hydrant on your pavement, and avail of our free quotations in Winnetka, IL.
Don’t let your water heaters down this merry season!
