The hot water heater is an easily forgotten appliance in your home. You use it every day (multiple times per day), but you may not notice the appliance since it's not one you may see often (it may be hidden in a closet, or in a basement). The water heater has a big job to do; it gives you that nice, hot and relaxing shower. The water heater will also give you warm water to wash your dishes and to wash your clothing. When this appliance begins to have issues is usually when you begin to notice it. Read on for some common hot water heater issues and what you can do to repair them.

Water Not Getting Hot Enough

If your hot water is not nearly as hot as it used to be, or is only getting warm, it may be due to a buildup of minerals at the base of the hot water heater. The heater core is usually on the bottom of the water heater. The minerals in your water can settle to the bottom of the water heater and block this core, which will cause your water heater to not be able to heat your water. The temperature on the water heater may have also been turned down. Take a look first at the thermostat on the water heater to see if it has been changed. Turn the water heater back up if necessary. 

If the water heater has a buildup in the bottom, you will need to empty the water from the tank and vacuum out the mineral deposits. To do this, you'll need to turn the gas off to the water heater. Attach a garden hose to the tank spout and open up the spout. Once the water is drained, attach a shop vacuum to the spout and suck out as much of the debris as possible.

Running Out Of Hot Water Quickly

If you're running out of hot water very quickly, it may be that your water heater is just not big enough to keep up with the demand. Water heaters come in different sizes, but if you have a lot of people in your home showering, or you're doing a lot of laundry and dishes, it may not be able to keep up. It may be time to upgrade your hot water heater to a larger capacity water heater to keep up with your active and busy family.

A water heater is a commonly forgotten-about appliance, until it breaks down. If you're having issues with your water heater, call a professional plumbing repairs service for help

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