Water Heater Repair: Knowing When To Call In a Pro

There are certain kinds of water heater repair that a homeowner with a toolbox may be able to tackle on his or her own. That is, after all, part of being a homeowner. Unless you want your bank account to constantly take a hit every time something goes on the fritz, you're going to learn to be handy before long. Of course, there are things that should be left to the pros. And when you get into tricky situations with your plumbing, you need to know when it's time to put away the tools and call a professional.

Smell of Gas
This is a big warning sign that should indicate to you that calling a professional out would be the wisest course of action. A gas smell (and a water leak should be treated the same way on an electric system) is a clear signal that things are unstable and you may need water heater repair done by a professional. You may even need an entirely new appliance. The worst thing you can do is try to patch things up yourself or ignore the problem. Not only is your appliance faulty, it could potentially cause a problem that could injure or even kill someone in your home.

Noise
When a hot water heater repair professional is brought out because a customer is having issues with noise, the problem is often a build up of sediment. The key to getting rid of this noise is to flush out the tank. You can do this once or twice a year to keep the sediment from building up. While it would be nice to have a professional on hand to do this for you, this is one of those jobs you can tackle on your own as long as you know what you're doing. Of course, that's the key. Make sure you know what you're doing before you proceed.

Temperature
If you're not getting the desired temperature out of your faucets, the problem probably lies in the realm of water heater repair. First things first, however. Check the thermostat and make sure no one has changed the settings. You can adjust the thermostat and, if that was the problem, you should begin to get the results you wanted. If this doesn't solve the problem, you may need to change out either the thermostat or the sensor. If you don't know exactly how to do this, you may benefit by calling a professional out. He can get things fixed up and have your water back at a desired temperature in no time.