Residential Water Heater Maintenance and Repair
Prompt, courteous water heater service in Morris County, Essex County, Union County, Hunterdon County, and Somerset County
Of all your household appliances, few are as fundamentally important as your hot water heater. Day in and day out, you rely on your hot water heater for your family’s comfort and health. When the hot water is flowing, it’s easy to take the machine for granted and ignore the signs of upcoming trouble. Then one day, the hot water cuts out, literally sending shivers through your household. At Jersey Best, our trusted professionals perform regular maintenance and emergency repairs on a wide range of residential water heaters: gas, electric and hybrid, tank heaters and tankless. We’re ready to provide the courteous and professional service you need to restore the comforting flow of hot water to your home.
Problems common to household water heaters
Water heater problems can come on gradually or suddenly. Problems you’ll notice include:
- No hot water — The most obvious symptom can have many causes, such as pilot light or thermocouple failure on a gas heater, thermostat or heating element malfunction on an electric unit.
- Inadequate hot water — When water starts out hot, but turns cold to quickly, you could have a buildup of sediment in your tank.
- Rusty and/or foul-smelling water — Corrosion in your water heater or your pipes or a buildup of bacteria in your tank could be the problem. A leaky tank and corrosion of the anode rod are common issues.
- Noisy pipes — Sediment in the tank can cause water to overheat, so it’s actually boiling in the tank, which can cause rumbling and knocking sounds. If you hear a hiss, the tank likely has a leak.
- Water leaks — If you see water collecting on the floor, your tank or the pipes connected to it are probably leaking. Storage tank heaters have a glass lining to protect the steel tank from rust and corrosion. Over time, that lining can develop microfractures that allow moisture to seep out, leading to rust and corrosion of the tank.
Finally, it’s necessary to note that some malfunctions of a gas storage heater can be deadly. Such incidents are extremely rare, but gas leaks can produce devastating explosions and house fires. The buildup of pressure in a poorly maintained storage tank can also produce an explosion. The combination of sediment causing the water to boil and a stuck temperature and pressure relief valve can cause a rupture much like a bomb blast. Fortunately, with routine maintenance and attention to performance issues, you can avoid any danger.
Extend the life of your water heater with regular maintenance
The life cycle for a tank water heater is generally eight to 12 years, while a tankless heater can last about 20 years. However, you can significantly extend that life through periodic maintenance. Maintenance on a tank heater tends to be simpler and less expensive. You should periodically perform a visual inspection for pooled water, rust and corrosion. Your water heater should be flushed once a year to remove sediment, especially if you have “hard” water. If your unit has a T&P valve, it should be tested to make sure it can open and close easily. You’ll also want to replace the anode rod every three to five years, before it becomes heavily corroded.
A tankless heater is subject to the same buildup of corrosive elements, so it needs to be delimed or descaled at least once a year. If you have hard water, maintenance should be performed every six months.
Jersey Best is happy to arrange regular maintenance for your water heater so you can avoid the inconvenience of a breakdown and repair.
Contact Jersey Best for water heater repair in Central New Jersey
There’s no reason to suffer with substandard hot water when the pros at Jersey Best are ready to perform scheduled maintenance and make timely make cost-effective repairs. We service clients throughout New Jersey, especially in Morris County, Essex County, Union County, Hunterdon County, and Somerset County. Call us today at 908-332-8449 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. For emergency service call 866-740-1080.