The Real Reason Your Water Heater Isn’t Working
Three years ago, your traditional water heater gave up, leading you to switch to a tankless water heater. At first, things were great in your Orange County home. When your entire family needs to shower, have clean clothes, and clean up after themselves, you know you need hot water more than your kids beg for the trendiest water bottle every few months.
However, a few months ago, your hot water paradise trickled into a hot water nightmare. When you turn the tap on, it’s anybody’s guess whether you’ll get a scalding hot surprise or a lukewarm letdown.
You chose the tankless water heater because it was supposed to be the best fit for your family, with its promise of endless hot water production and no bacteria growth. Unfortunately, it’s not living up to the hype, leaving you frustrated and wondering if you’re doing something wrong or if something else is leading to your water heater woes.
Why Water Heater Installation Matters
No great water heater can overcome a bad installation, whether you have a traditional or tankless water heater or a mid-range to top-of-the-line model. Many factors go into safely and correctly installing a water heater to provide you and your family with dependable hot water for years to come. Each type of water heater operates slightly differently and requires varying installation configurations. How your water heater was installed can determine how happy you are with the results.
A proper installation accounts for all the details, such as drain lines, electrical connections, pipework, and pressure valves. It’s also important to verify your home has the correct hook-ups and venting to accommodate the water heater model you want.
How Hard Water Affects Your Water Heater
Unfortunately, a good installation doesn’t make your water heater immune to hard water. It’s no secret that the water quality in southern California is pretty bad. Hard water is full of minerals like calcium, zinc, and magnesium that like to coat the inside of your water heater’s heating elements. This can cause them to become inefficient or even burn out entirely, giving you and your family an icy surprise the next time someone tries to shower.
The best way to combat this is to install a water treatment system in your home. A water treatment system is a perfect way to eliminate those abrasive minerals from your home’s water supply. This adds ions like hydrogen, sodium, and potassium to the water so it can smoothly run through your pipes and water tank without causing buildup.
Routine Water Heater Maintenance Makes a Difference
If your installation process was comprehensive and well done, and you have had a water treatment but still have a water heater hiccup, it could be the result of routine wear and tear. Your water heater works non-stop to keep you and your family living comfortably with reliable hot water.
Any appliance working that hard needs regular maintenance to keep working efficiently. Common signs of impending water heater problems include leaks, insufficient hot water, inconsistent heating, no hot water, a noisy unit, or any rust or visible damage on your unit.
Knowing what to look for can help you spot an issue before it becomes a disaster. It’s a good practice to schedule routine maintenance checks. When our technicians arrive, we’ll inspect your unit, run tests, and keep you in the loop on any findings.
Preventative care keeps your unit in top condition so you and your family can take all the hot showers you want and still have hot water for laundry and the dishes.
Water Heater Technicians You Can Trust
Water heater installation and maintenance are not minor tasks! If you suspect your water heater could use some TLC but don’t know the underlying issue, reach out to us. It’s our job to make sure you have the proper unit for your needs and accurately troubleshoot any issues that arise. After all, we’ve been serving our community since 1983 with knowledgeable and friendly technicians you can count on!
