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Frequently Asked Questions:

Water Heaters

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1. What do I do when my water heater is le

aking?

2. Why doesn’t my old water heater work a

s well as it used to?

3. My water heater is leaking from the top.

What should I do?

4. How long do water heaters last?

5. My water heater stopped working. What

should I do?

6. How do you troubleshoot an electric wat

er heater?

7. How do you troubleshoot a tankless

water heater?

8. What size water heater do I need?

9. Gas vs. electric water heater difference?

WHAT DO I DO WHEN MY WATER HEATER IS LEAKING?

1. Make sure the problem is ACTUALLY the water heater

2. Shut the water heater off

3. Shut the water off

4. Locate the leak

5. Decide to repair or replace

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WHY DOESN’T MY OLD WATER HEATER WORK AS WELL AS IT USED TO?

• If your water heater is ten years or older, it most likely needs to be replaced.

• There are a wide variety of reasons that it may not be working, including rust and corrosion.

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MY WATER HEATER IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

• Some issues are self reparable while others may require a professional.

• Possible issues:• A loose valve – if there is water around the valve, you can drain

the unit and tighten it. If there is rust or damage, you will need to replace it.

• A loose pipe fitting – tighten the loose pipe with a wrench. Extremely loose pipes have risk of bursting.

• Rust or corrosion – older tanks may need to be replaced.

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HOW LONG DO WATER HEATERS LAST?

• Water heaters can last anywhere from 10-15 years.• Prolong the life of your unit by conducting regular

maintenance.

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MY WATER HEATER STOPPED WORKING. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

• See if the problem is okay to fix yourself or if it requires a professional.

• Some potential reasons include:• The pilot light is not lit – check the owner’s manual for

instructions• Bad heating element – this will need to be replaced by a

professional• Sediment buildup – drain and flush the unit once a year to

reduce sediment build up• Bad thermostat – adjust the thermostat or it may need a

replacement• Gas leak – a “rotten egg” smell is an emergency. call a

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HOW DO YOU TROUBLESHOOT AN ELECTRIC WATER HEATER?

• A couple different problems that you can check first before calling a professional are:• No hot water – check to see if the unit is getting power. Hit the

reset button.• Not enough hot water – Temperature may be set too low on the

thermostat.• Water is too hot – Make sure the thermostat fits snugly on the

tank or lower the water temperature.

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HOW DO YOU TROUBLESHOOT A GAS WATER HEATER?

• Most gas heaters are reliable but here are some problems you may be able to troubleshoot yourself.• Pilot light will no stay lit – Make sure there has been no service

interruption with your gas provider. Try cleaning the burner or bleeding the air from the line.

• Not enough hot water – the unit may simple be too small. Try turning up the thermostat and drain and flush the tank to remove sediment.

• The thermostat does not shut off – Contact a professional because this is likely a calibration problem.

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HOW DO YOU TROUBLESHOOT A TANKLESS WATER HEATER?

• Most tankless water heaters can last up to 20-25 years. Some problems that you may run into are:• Lack of hot water – If the standby light isn’t on, that means no

power is getting to your unit. Make sure the breaker hasn’t tripped.

• Clicking noise – This is normal and there is no need to worry. Move the unit farther away or into the garage if it becomes annoying.

• Flickering lights – the electrical panel may be too old or too small. Check with a professional to make sure that your panel has sufficient amp capacity.

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WHAT SIZE WATER HEATER DO I NEED?

• If your tank is too small, you may run out of water too often and conversely, if it’s too large, you may be wasting money.

• Allot 12 gallons of hot water for each bedroom plus one in your home.

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GAS VS. WATER HEATER DIFFERENCES?

• Electric units cost more to purchase install and operate.• Gas units last 13 years while electrical units last about

12 years on average.• Gas units are less efficient because of heat loss.

However, it can be helped with proper insulation and maintenance.

• Gas units have a much faster recovery rate than electric units meaning it will take much less time to reheat water.

• Gas units will continue to work in a power outage.

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FOR MORE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS

Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Charlotte today:

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

8916 Crump Road

Pineville, NC 28134

(704) 461-1700