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Electric Water Heater Troubleshooting
Your water is running cold, no fun – especially with our Indiana winters. As Electric water heater specialists in Indianapolis, we know sometimes the problem can be a really simple fix and you don’t need one of our highly trained technicians to come out. Let’s take a moment to troubleshoot your system because there are several minor issues that are easy to fix.
In a previous article we told you to determine if you’ve got a gas or electric water heater. Last time we covered Gas Water Heater troubleshooting. Today we look at Electric Water Heaters.
Possible Problem #1: The Circuit Breaker Needs To Be Reset
As with any electric appliance, the first thing to check if your electric water heater fails, is your circuit breaker box (or fuse box in older homes.) Check to see if the circuit to the water heater needs to be reset. If you have a fuse box (will look like little glass windows instead of switches,) you may need to replace a burned out fuse.
Possible Problem #2: Electric Water Heater Thermostat Is Set Too Low
Check the thermostat on the water heater. It should be in the “normal” range (120°-135°F or around 50°C.) If it is not, this is your problem; turn it up. If it is, try resetting it by turning it all the way down and then back up again, you should hear the water heater kick back on.
When To Call In The Professionals
The possible problems mentioned above can usually be handled by the home ower without having to call one of Carter’s My Plumber’s highly trained technicians. If you have any of the following problems with your water heater, it probably means that your appliance is simply worn out and it is time for a replacement:
- Cracks, leaks or rust on the tank
- Rust in the water
- Smelly water (smells like sulfur or rotten eggs)
- Unusual noises coming from the water heater or the adjacent pipes
- None of the trouble shooting list above worked
In this case, we strongly caution against trying to install a new water heater yourself. This will often void your warranty and could be just plain dangerous! Call the Indianapolis Plumbing professionals Carter’s My Plumber at (317) 859-9999
