Water heater leaks are one of the most common problems seen with conventional tank-style water heaters, but it's not the only issue that can occur. No homeowner wants to deal with unexpected issues with their home fixtures, including their water heater. One way to be prepared for possible issues with a tank-style water heater is to learn about their most common problems.
At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we've helped homeowners across Los Angeles and the surrounding areas with all sorts of issues involving their traditional water heaters. For over 15 years, we've serviced thousands of water heaters and educated homeowners on the common issues with tank-style water heaters so that they're prepared to handle any problem that could arise.
Here are some of the common issues we've seen regarding tank-style water heaters.
- Leaks
- Sediment buildup
- Loss of or no hot water
- Issues with pressure valve
By the end of this article, you'll gain insider information about what our technicians see as the most common problems with tank-style water heaters. With all this info, you'll be better positioned to decide if these water heaters are right for your home.
Let's start!
What Is a Tank-Style Water Heater?
Tank-style water heaters are tall and bulky cylinder tanks that come in a variety of capacities and are powered by gas, electricity, or both. The tank contains water heated at a set temperature and connected to the pipes coming from a home's main water line. The heated water travels through a home's pipes as it makes its way to the fixtures in a home, such as the shower and sink faucets.
What Are the Drawbacks of Tank-Style Water Heaters?
Traditional tank-style water heaters have been heating up water in homes for several decades. Although manufacturers have made improvements to the water heater's overall technical design, it still has a few drawbacks, such as the following.
- Takes up space: These water heaters are installed outside the home or inside but take up significant space due to their size. These tanks can carry 30 to 100 gallons of water which requires ample space for installation.
- Efficiency: Tankless and heat pump water heaters tend to be more environmentally efficient than tank-style water heaters.
Even if a tank-style water heater's efficiency and space requirements aren't an issue for some homeowners, various problems can occur throughout its lifetime (8 to 15 years).
In the following sections, we'll touch on each of these concerns.
Leaking Tank
A leak from a tank-style water heater is usually visible and can occur for the following reasons.
- Defective parts such as valves and connections
- Corroded or rusted pipes
- Loose drain valve
- Sediment buildup
- Old age
Most modern tank-style water heaters have a built-in leak detection with a shut-off valve that automatically stops water from running so it doesn't cause any water damage to the home. These valves are meant to turn the water supply off to the water heater whenever it detects a leak from anywhere on the tank.
Tank-style water heaters have tens of gallons of water at their disposal. So, a major leak can result in water damage to the home and other fixtures, items, and appliances.
It's also possible that the leak isn't an issue with the tank-style water heater but actual condensation buildup. Condensation from a water heater is mistakenly confused for leakage; any water gathered from condensation is small and can be wiped dry.
Another common issue that occurs with tank-style water heaters is sediment buildup. This buildup can also be a contributing factor to leaks too.
Sediment Buildup
Sediment buildup in tank-style water heaters is another common problem that occurs for a few reasons. Failure to maintain a water heater can result in a major buildup of sediment that can cause cracks in the tank water heater which can lead to leaks.
Hard water is a significant contributing factor to sediment buildup in water heaters. Hard water contains concentrations of magnesium and calcium which form limescale. Limescale has an off-white, sometimes greenish, chalk-like appearance and is more likely to appear in the presence of hot water.
Because tank-style water heaters contain gallons upon gallons of hot water, limescale sediment is more likely to accumulate along with other sediment from the water supply. To counteract this, tank-style water heaters have an anode rod that attracts sediment and limescale. Despite this, the water heater can still accumulate sediment and may experience leaks and failures if the unit isn't flushed annually or the anode rod isn't cleaned or replaced.
Sediment buildup is a common problem that can be avoided with a water heater flush, but one other issue that is just as troublesome is when the tank-style water heater lacks or has very little hot water.
Loss of or No Hot Water
One of the most common problems homeowners report with their tank-style water heater is the lack of or loss of running hot water. There are a few reasons why a tank-style water heater can run out of hot water, such as
- Over usage of hot water: At any given time, homes can run hot water in the bathroom, kitchen, and washing machine. Whether all of these things run simultaneously or not, there’s a limited supply of hot water, and there's a slight chance it can use up all the hot water in the tank. This results in homes having to wait until the tank-style water heater fills up with hot water again.
- Pilot light problems: A pilot light helps start the combustion that heats up the water in the water heater. If the red visible light goes out, then it can indicate there’s an issue with the system.
- Heating element failure: Electric or gas-powered tank-style water heaters have rods responsible for heating the water. If there's an issue with the gas line, electricity connection, or heating rods, the water will not be properly heated.
It's recommended to contact a technician anytime a tank-style water heater is experiencing problems with a lack or loss of hot water. By inspecting the water heater, a technician can find the root cause and recommend what corrective action is required.
Pressure Relief Valve Issues
The pressure relief valve is a vital component of a tank-style water heater, and it's a part that can sometimes experience issues. The valve helps relieve any excess pressure to prevent the tank from exploding.
It can be difficult for any homeowner to determine if there's something wrong with their tank-style water heater's valve. Here are some symptoms to look out for.
- Inconsistent hot water: There could be a number of reasons why a tank-style water heater isn't correctly heating up water, and a malfunctioning pressure relief valve may be the reason.
- Water dripping: Any water dripping from the valve could indicate it isn't sealed correctly.
- Rust or corrosion: Rust or corroded parts on a tank-style water heater are never a good sign. If you notice a rusted or corroded valve, it's best to contact a technician as soon as possible.
Is A Tank-Style Water Heater Right For Me?
Tank-style water heaters may not be the go-to water heater in newly constructed houses, but they're still reliable when it comes to providing hot water. Despite its reliability, these water heaters are still prone to common problems. Now that you're aware of these issues, you can either decide if this water heater system is right for you or take the necessary steps to avoid these issues if you plan to install one in your home.
Since 2007, we at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air have installed and serviced multiple tank-style water heaters from the top brands. Our technicians are trained to identify issues that may arise with conventional water heaters. This knowledge not only helps us out in the field but allows us to educate homeowners interested in tank-style traditional water heaters.
If you have any questions regarding common problems with tank-style water heaters, contact us using one of the buttons below or book an appointment through our online scheduler.
It helps to understand the common problems of a product, but one way to take it even further is by learning about both the pros and cons of tank-style water heaters. By understanding both, you can weigh the good and the bad to determine if this water heater is right for you.
