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An electric water heater is common nowadays. You can spot it easily because it looks like a gas tank. Your typical water heater has a steel body with a storage tank inside, insulated to keep heat from leaking out.
Electric water heaters use heating elements installed in the device to raise the temperature of the water stored inside the tank. This is a different heat source compared to gas water heaters who uses up gas to fire up the inside burner to heat the water.
The heating elements installed inside your machine are usually the culprit if your electric water heater is malfunctioning. They often need replacement due to regular use. You can also encounter problems with high water pressure, under-maintained water tank, and malfunctioning heater settings in your electric water heater.
When you’re troubleshooting the problem with your device, it’s important that you start by turning off the device. The voltage from the electricity coursing through the machine will be dangerous if you start working on a malfunctioning appliance.
We advise that you shut off the power on both your electric heater and the breaker inside your home. You can also inspect the wires on your heater to check for any damage or use a voltage tester to see if current runs properly.
If your water heater isn’t producing hot water, then, you can start by checking out switches and damaged heating elements. Troubleshoot a tripped switch by turning it off and on again. If the switch didn’t trip, try resetting your heater’s temperature meter. When both methods fail, you can proceed by testing the heating installation to see if they need replacement.
As for water heaters that don’t produce enough hot water, it is most likely that the heater is not large enough to deliver enough supply to your home. This is a mismatch between the capacity of your heater and the water demand of your household.
A good rule of thumb is always to have your tank filled up with hot water. 75 per cent of the total tank capacity filled with hot water is a good level which lets you know that your tank can handle the water demand in your home for everyday use.
Showers releasing water that’s too hot can be a problem with your thermostat. Either it’s set too high or it is malfunctioning. Start by opening your heater’s service panel to get to the thermostat and check if it’s a problem with the settings or a broken thermostat. The recommended temperature is around 45oC to 50oC in a standard water heater.
Water heaters leaking water may be due to broken valves and pipes. Corrosion is common especially since your heater is moist all the time. You must check if there are any signs of corrosion in your tank, valves, or pipes. Immediately order a replacement part to get rid of the leak and/or fix the rust-coloured water coming out of the faucet.
Finally, if your water heater suddenly produces an odd sound it might be a problem with sediment build-up. A way to troubleshoot this problem is emptying the tank which also gets rid of the materials accumulating in the tank. If it doesn’t work, then, it might be a good idea to order in a replacement water tank to get rid of the annoying noise from your water heater.