There are water heater problems, and then there are emergency situations that demand immediate attention. The question is, how do you know if a water heater issue constitutes an emergency?
You can keep reading to learn more about how to know when you need to schedule emergency hot water heater repair in Orange County. Then give our team a call for an appointment any time you need us. No plumbing problem is too big or too small for our team to assist with.
Major Leaks
A leak coming from your water heater is never normal. But a minor leak that is an infrequent drip is not quite as serious as a major leak. Either way, you need to schedule service for your water heater, but a major leak requires immediate attention.
With a major leak, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and turn off the water source leading into your home. Although your water tank is full of water and will continue leaking until it is empty, it will not continue refilling over and over again to create a much larger problem.
No Hot Water
If you turn on the hot water faucet somewhere in your home and the water temperature does not change at all, that’s a red flag. Sometimes as water heaters age, they can lose some of their efficacy and may not heat up water quite as much as they did when they were brand new.
But if there is no hot water at all, the heating element is likely broken. There are many times when we can repair or replace the heating element while keeping the rest of your water heater intact. If your water heater is already up in age, it may make sense to go ahead and invest in a completely new unit. We can talk to you about your options after assessing the situation.
Low Water Pressure
First, you want to determine whether you have low water pressure overall or just low water pressure when you turn on a hot faucet. If you turn on a cold faucet and also experience low water pressure, there is likely a different problem that needs to be addressed.
But if you have strong water pressure with the cold water faucet, and then lose water pressure when you switch over to hot, there may be a blockage preventing water from channeling into your home the way it should.
Bad Odors
If your water smells bad when it comes out of the tap, that’s a red flag of bacteria buildup. It is rare for a water heater to have a serious bacteria problem, but it is possible. Again, you want to assess both your hot and cold water. But if the cold water does not have a bad odor and the hot water does, the water heater needs to be checked out.
Bacteria can have negative effects on your health, even just from bathing or showering in it. Your water heater may need to be flushed out completely, or we may need to take steps to assess the area where water is entering the tank in case that is a contributing factor.
Contact Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air for fast, professional slab leak repair in Orange County, CA. We have served Orange County since 1981.