DO-IT-YOURSELF : Heater Maintenance Pays
Simple trouble-shooting of gas and electric water heaters is not difficult and can save you money as well as preventing potentially dangerous situations.
A gas heater must have enough air to burn efficiently. If the heater shares space with the furnace and clothes dryer, then an ample air supply is even more important.
When a burner is starved for air, it fires with an inefficient orange flame that jumps and pops. Be sure all burners have sufficient air by opening doors in confined areas or by installing vents. A clogged flue is caused by rust soot or debris that block tight bends.
Caution: A clogged flue can be a serious health hazard. It can force deadly carbon monoxide and other combustion gases into living quarters. An easy test is to hold a lighted match near the flue hat while the burner is firing. The smoke should be drawn up the flue. If it isn’t, turn off the burner, disassemble and inspect the vent pipes. Clean each section.
If the pilot light won’t stay lit, replace the thermocouple or have it replaced. Leaking gas pipes can blow up your home. If you smell a strong gas odor, evacuate the house and call the gas company from a neighbor’s.
If your electric water heater fails, check for burned out fuses or tripped circuit breakers at the main electrical panel. If none are blown or tripped, press the reset button on each thermostat and listen for a ticking noise as the element heats up.
If this doesn’t produce hot water, the problem may be wiring, thermostats or elements. Check visually to make sure no wire has come off its terminal. If you find one, turn off the electrical power to the water heater before refastening the wire.
To check a heating element, thermostat or high-limit protector, test each part with a voltage ohmmeter. If you don’t have a VOM, you can still tell whether the trouble is in the top or the bottom of the tank.
If you get plenty of warm water but no hot water, the top element or thermostat is bad; a few gallons of very hot water followed by cool water indicates the bottom element or thermostat needs replacing. Because elements fail more often than thermostats, assume you have a faulty element.
To replace a defective element, shut off the power and water. Open all water tanks and drain the tank below the bad element. Remove the wires and the element. Pull it straight out of the tank. Clean the gasket surface, apply sealer to a new gasket, screw in and connect the new element.