Design Comfort Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Water Heater Repair’

Signs That Your Water Heater Needs Professional Help

Monday, April 12th, 2021

water-around-base-of-water-heaterNo matter what season it is here in the Salt Lake City area, and no matter what the temperature it is outside, there is one home comfort system that you need to consistently work each and every day—your water heater. This is one of those systems that’s really easy to take for granted. After all, do you ever think about how you get the hot water to your taps whenever you need it?

Consider the amount of strain a water heater goes under. It operates 365 days a year. You can’t expect it to work reliably 100% of that time. Of course, it’s a lot less likely that you’ll have surprise repair needs if you invest in routine water heater maintenance. We recommend this once a year for tank water heaters, and perhaps less often for tankless systems, depending on a few factors. But even with maintenance, it’s important to know the signs that you’re in need of water heater repair and your system needs our professional help. Read on to learn what these signs are!

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Defeating Water Heater Obstacles: Hard Water

Monday, November 26th, 2018

hot-water-faucetYou may have heard the term hard water at some point or another, but maybe don’t know what it actually is. Hard water is water that has a high presence of minerals in it—namely, calcium and magnesium. These minerals are harmless to your health, but the same cannot be said for your plumbing system. Your pipes and your quality of life can suffer in a number of ways due to hard water. Here are some of them:

  • Hard water makes it hard for soap to lather, turning cleaning and showering into nuisance chores.
  • It leaves buildup on the inside of your pipes, which can lead to clogs and subsequent drop in water pressure.
  • It stains your laundry and leads to the quicker breakdown of your clothing and other washables.

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Consider a Water Heater Upgrade This Year

Monday, June 11th, 2018

repair-of-gas-water-heaterWater heaters are designed to last a very long time, particularly if you give them the right level of care and maintenance. However, no matter how well you take care of your water heater, eventually it will need to be replaced. The trick is being able to identify when that time has come, so you can invest in an upgrade before it breaks down on you altogether.

The last thing you want is to find out your water heater has failed after jumping into what you think is going to be a hot shower. But how do you know if it’s almost time for replacement, or you just need another water heater repair in Salt Lake City? Keep reading and we’ll help you determine just that.

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Is it Time to Schedule Water Heater Repair?

Monday, May 18th, 2015

Even those of us who prefer to live simply will admit that the water heater is an essential appliance. Nobody in this day and age is heating buckets of water over an open fire and pouring that water into a tub just to bathe or to do the laundry. We depend upon our water heaters to provide the hot water for such chores and daily tasks, as well as for washing the dishes, general cleaning and so much more. That is why it is so important to schedule prompt water heater repair services when you believe that something has gone wrong with your system. For outstanding water heater repairs in Salt Lake City, UT, schedule service with the pros at Design Comfort.

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How the Sacrificial Anode Rod Prevents Water Heater Repairs

Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

Most water heaters across the country are storage tank water heaters. These are water heaters with large storage tanks, built to hold anywhere between 20 to 70+ gallons of water. While keeping that many gallons of hot water on hand at all times is certainly nice for the homeowner, it can create some sustainability issues for the water heater itself. Being exposed to water at all times can cause metal to rust out pretty fast.

In a tank under that much pressure, the last thing you want is for the structure to be weakened by rust. If the rust progresses far enough, the tank can actually rupture and cause water damage to the surrounding area. So, how to tank water heaters avoid this fate? By making use of a part called the “sacrificial anode rod.”

What is a Sacrificial Anode Rod?

The sacrificial anode rod is a long metal rod, which is inserted into the storage tank of your water heater. The rod is composed of either magnesium, aluminum, or zinc, and is formed around a steel wire in the center. The rod acts as a sort of draw for rust, protecting the inner lining of the storage tank from rusting. Eventually, however, the rod itself will corrode to the point of uselessness. When this happens, it is vitally important that the anode rod be replaced with a fresh one. If this doesn’t happen, the inner lining of the water heater tank will begin to rust.

The first sign that most homeowners have that their anode rod has failed is when discolored water begins to come out of their faucets. By that point, the lining of the tank has already begun to rust, and it may need to be replaced.

When to Replace the Sacrificial Anode Rod

The anode rod should be checked at least once a year. That way, a rod that is getting close to failing completely can be replaced with a fresh one to maintain protection. If you aren’t sure how to check or replace your sacrificial anode rod, call Design Comfort.

We provide water heater repair services throughout the Salt Lake City area.

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Signs You Need Water Heater Repair

Friday, August 22nd, 2014

When your water heater stops working, you’ll realize just how many tasks around the house rely on hot water. Whether you need to take a hot shower, throw some clothes in the washing machine, or wash stuck-on food from the dishes, a lack of hot water is a major inconvenience. While an absence of hot water will likely cause you to call for water heater repair, it’s important to catch warning signs right away to avoid failure in the future.

While water heaters are built to last a long time, no unit is perfect and yours will probably need repairs eventually.

Here Are Three Reasons You May Need To Call For Water Heater Repairs

  • Loud Noises: Often, a rumbling sound may indicate a broken dip tube or a problem with the mixing valve, or it may mean that the water is overheating. Another unusual noise is a banging noise that may indicate a mineral buildup. Even if these repairs needs do not seem to have affected the quality of your hot water, it’s important to have them checked right away to avoid leaks.
  • Leaks: Leaks from components of your water heater are usually reparable as long as they have not affected the tank. Otherwise, a leak may require you to replace the entire storage heater. If you notice water around your unit, call a plumber immediately for repairs.
  • Temperature Issues: Another common problem with water heaters has to do with the temperature of your water. As a homeowner, you know what temperatures your hot water is typically able to reach. Similarly, you can recognize whether the water becomes cold sooner than usual. When this begins to happen, it may indicate a repair need. For example, a broken dip tube may mean that water cannot heat up completely at the top of the tank.

Don’t wait for your water heater to break down before calling for help from an experienced plumber. Only a trained contractor can diagnose and repair problems such as these to get your heater back to normal. Call on the experts in water heater repair in Millcreek at Design Comfort.

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