As the temperature continues to grow colder over the next few months, you probably won’t want to miss that hot shower in the morning. However, did you know that winter weather can damage your water heater? Unfortunately, the season where we want hot water more than any other time of the year is also when our water heaters are most vulnerable.
The 5 Most Common Water Heater Problems During Cold Weather
- Malfunctioning Components: Make sure to watch the pilot light if you have a gas or water heater during the winter. If you have an electric water heater, keep an eye on the thermostat and heating elements. Everything from the thermocouple to the pilot control valve can malfunction if it gets too cold, so you may want to call a technician for water heater maintenance if certain parts of your system seem off.
- Poor Insulation: While many homeowners know that it is important to put insulation around their pipes, your water heater needs insulation to protect from the cold as well. If you have an electric water heater, consider insulating it with a neoprene foam, while your gas water heater should be insulated with a fiberglass wrap, or aluminum foil tape. Not only will this keep your water heater from being damaged over the winter, it can also raise the temperature in your heater tank by several degrees, meaning your system will not have to work as hard and you’ll be able to get hot water faster and cheaper.
- Sediment Accumulation: While it is not uncommon for sediment and minerals to build up at the bottom of your water heater over time, these materials can suck a lot of energy from your tank, forcing you to spend more on a worse-performing system. Check your heater for scale, corrosion, and sediment before winter begins, and consider flushing your heater out so it performs better over the season.
- High Temperatures: If your water heater temperature rises to more than 120 degrees, electrodes in the water can degrade and scales can accumulate, making your water more acidic, and destroying the anodes protecting your tank’s walls. Call an experienced water heater technician to see if this is happening in your system, and to tell you whether your unit needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Problems with the Heater Recirculator or Thermal Expansion Tank: It is pretty common for water heaters to now have a recirculator or circulator pump as well as a thermal expansion tank. While both of these pieces of equipment are important, they can end up costing you more over winter if they are not working correctly, and should be looked at by a water heater technician whenever you schedule service.
Contact Our Water Heater Experts Today
At All City Plumbing, our experienced Rancho Cucamonga plumbers are capable of fulfilling all your water heater needs this winter. Call us for repairs maintenance, and installations, and if you really want to ensure you always have hot water on-demand, consider upgrading to a tankless water heater. Regardless of what you’re looking for, you can always trust our Rancho Cucamonga water heater pros to deliver what your property needs.
Call (909) 552-7550 for service, or click here to contact us online.