Water Heater Repair Fort Worth

Inadequate Supply

We mentioned inadequate supply above, but it is a key problem that deserves a second look. Over time, a buildup of sediment accumulates in the tank, which can cause a lot of problems. It reduces the amount of liquid the tank is capable of storing and makes it really difficult for the unit to operate. If your system is struggling to heat water, and it’s only giving you cold or lukewarm water, that could be related to a broken heating element and is obviously an issue that must be addressed. If you have a tankless system and your supply is fine in some rooms but not in others, you need tankless water heater repair.

Long Heating Times

If you live in a house with a lot of people—or just a few people who really love their long showers—you know exactly why your tank sometimes runs out of hot liquid. But it should be able to get another full tank heated pretty quickly. A gas-powered unit in good condition should be able to heat a tank in around 30 to 40 minutes, and an electric system will take about twice that amount of time unless it’s even slower because it needs water heater repair. Fort Worth residents who find a system is taking noticeably longer to raise the water temperature can rest assured that it needs attention from a professional plumber.

Smelly or Discolored Liquid

Does your hot water come out of the faucet with a metallic taste, feel slimy or appear discolored? You may also notice particles of dirt or rust floating in the liquid. A brown water issue is usually the result of sediment buildup or corrosion on the inside of the tank. If you have smelly water with a musty or metallic odor, it is an equally bad symptom that must be investigated by a repair expert before you drink the liquid or use it for bathing.

Strange Noises

Can you hear strange sounds coming from your tank? It might sound like a rattling, banging, sucking, grinding, thumping or boiling noise. Different sounds occur for different reasons, but all you should normally hear from a unit that is running smoothly is a quiet humming noise. Any other sounds need to be investigated and resolved with the right strategy for water heater repair. Our plumbers can take care of odd sounds to reduce wear and tear on the unit and a number of other potential problems.

Tank is Leaking

We probably don’t have to tell you that if you see visible water leaks from your tank or there are mysterious puddles forming near your tank, that’s not a good sign. Leaks cause a lot of expensive moisture damage in a very short period of time, so the first thing you should do is shut off the valve on your heater so it can’t get any more intake. Then, call your local plumber for water heater repair. Residents should note that puddles might actually be surprisingly far away from the tank, especially if rugs, furniture, and other items obstruct the flow.

High Charges on Utility Bills

Traditional water heaters use quite a bit of energy by constantly heating gallons of water, so it is available whenever the faucet is turned on. Over time as parts wear out and the unit suffers damage, it loses energy efficiency and needs to use more and more fuel to provide the same amount of thermal energy. That increases your energy costs significantly, and you end up paying a lot more on your monthly utility bill. By repairing your unit or replacing it with an Energy Star-certified, high-efficiency model, you could noticeably reduce your water heating bills.

Why Mr. Rooter Plumbing Is the Best Choice for Water Heater Repair in Fort Worth?

When you need expert plumbing services, call Fort Worth’s most trusted professional plumbing company: Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Fort Worth. You can count on us for dependable, 24-hour water heater services and dozens of other helpful plumbing services, including repair, maintenance, and installation. Call us any time of the day or night for emergency service, and we’ll be at your door as soon as possible to get your system under control.

Of course, we don’t limit ourselves to only providing water heater repair services! Homeowners and business owners alike can rely on our experienced team for a wide range of other plumbing services, including water heater installation, clogged drains service, slab leak detection and repair, and much more.

Workmanship & Parts Guaranteed

With our service professionals on the job, you never have to worry about the work not being done to your satisfaction or a part breaking down shortly after repair. We only hire the best plumbers Fort Worth has to offer, and we’re confident they will get the job done right the first time. That’s why we stand behind them with a guarantee on workmanship and parts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Water Heater Repair

Do you need to know more about our expert plumbing services in the Fort Worth area? Get in touch with us to speak with our knowledgeable staff and get all your questions answered, or find our responses to some common questions below.

What Would Cause a Hot Water Heater to Stop Working?

There are a number of factors that can cause damage to your unit and prevent it from working properly or at all, including:

• The current unit is too small
• Sediment buildup
• Hard mineral deposits
• Bad heating element or burned-out element
• Rust and corrosion
• The pilot light has gone out
• Problem with the circuit breaker
• Faulty thermostat
• The system is aging and needs replacement

Do I Need a Water Heater Repair or a Replacement Unit?

When your home is experiencing a water heater problem, it makes sense to wonder if you need a replacement or if water heater repairs for your current unit would suffice. We hear the old “repair or replace” question often, and in our professional experience, it boils down to a few key factors, such as the age of your old water heater and the extent or nature of the damage.

Think of it this way: if you have an older unit that is approaching the end of its life expectancy and showing signs of trouble, you can choose to get it repaired. But another component will fail sooner rather than later, and you’ll have to call for plumbing repairs again. That cycle will continue until you give up and get a replacement, so it’s actually more cost-effective to go straight to a new water heater installation rather than getting repeated repairs for a unit that is on its last legs. On the other hand, if you have a unit that is only a few years old and has one unexpected issue, repair services from a qualified plumber are all you need to get your system back up and running and squeeze many more years of use out of it.

What Are the Options for Water Heater Replacement in Fort Worth?

If you get the news that you need a new unit, you have a choice to make about the type of water heater that will best serve your household. There are generally three options available:

1. Conventional water heaters, which are by far the most common type in homes, use quite a bit of energy by constantly heating a large tank so there’s warm liquid available whenever you turn on the faucet. A tank water heater can be either electric or gas-powered.
2. Tankless water heaters, as the name suggests, save energy by eliminating the need for a tank. Instead, a tankless heater pulls cold liquid through the pipes and heats it on demand before it exits the faucet, conserving energy by only heating what is needed as it’s needed.
3. Hybrid models, such as a heat pump water heater, combine a tank with another heat source for increased energy efficiency. Solar water heaters are a type of hybrid system that uses thermal energy from solar panels combined with another type of fuel.

Not sure what is best for your home? We can help! Once our experienced technicians have had the opportunity to examine your current unit and ask you some questions about your water heater needs, we’ll have a pretty accurate idea of which option will serve you best and will offer you an educated recommendation.

How Long Should a Unit Last In Fort Worth?

You can typically expect a unit to last around 10 to 15 years before it needs to be replaced, although that time frame can be affected by factors such as how much maintenance it receives over the years, the water hardness in Fort Worth, and more. The term hard water means that the water supply has high levels of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. It’s safe to drink and bathe with, but hard water can create havoc in your plumbing system, including your water heater. It leaves behind mineral deposits that clog up pipes and build up on the inside of the water heater tank. They then flake off and settle on the bottom, where it covers the bottom heating element and can block the water outlet tube.

Texas actually ranks sixth in the nation for water hardness, and while Fort Worth doesn’t have the hardest water in the state—that honor goes to Midland with an impressive 500 mg/L—we still have pretty hard water that clocks in at an average of about 140 mg/L. As a result, having your tank flushed out and professionally maintained on a regular basis will go a long way toward avoiding problems like a lack of hot water, uneven temperatures, and sediment in the water. It will also prevent you from needing frequent replacements due to hard water damage.

Is It Dangerous to Have a Natural Gas Water Heater?

Gas-powered units are fast, effective, efficient, and safe as long as they get adequate care and maintenance. Any type of unit needs preventative maintenance, but it’s important to take extra care with a gas unit as opposed to an electric water heater because of the risk of gas leaks and ventilation issues that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is very toxic and can even be fatal when inhaled in large quantities. Over time, the connections between the appliance and the ventilation lines can deteriorate and leak, causing harmful carbon monoxide to seep into your home. Annual water heater maintenance gives your plumber the opportunity to check potential trouble spots and make sure everything is in a safe condition or take care of water heater repair before any weak points can degrade to the point where they pose a risk to you and your family.

If the Pilot Light Keeps Going Out, Does That Mean I Need a Water Heater Repair?

It’s fairly common for a pilot light to go out once in a while due to normal pressure fluctuations in the gas supply line, but once it has been relit, it should stay lit for a significant amount of time until it goes out again. If you light it, and it goes out a few minutes or a few hours later, there likely is an issue that needs to be addressed with water heater repair. Plumbers who are called to deal with this problem often find that the culprit is the unit’s thermocouple.

It depends on the exact nature of the problem, but it might be necessary to clean or adjust the thermocouple, or your plumber may need to replace it entirely. The good news is that thermocouples are inexpensive components, and it won’t take long for your plumber to remove the old one and get a new one installed so you can enjoy more serviceable years from your water heater without the irritating issue of having to constantly relight the pilot flame.

How Can I Prevent the Need for Water Heater Repair?

The best way to avoid needing repairs in the future is annual water heater maintenance. Annual water heater maintenance is the best way to avoid needing future services such as water heater repair. Fort Worth plumbing experts on our team will check out your system and take care of any minor repairs that are needed; you will prevent larger repairs from becoming necessary and extend the life expectancy of your system so you can avoid replacement for longer.

During routine maintenance visits, our plumbers will take care of tasks such as:

• Examining the anode rod for signs of calcium buildup
• Testing the temperature-pressure-release (TPR) valve
• Draining the tank to rinse out sediment

Does Your Plumbing System Need Help From an Expert Water Heater Repair Plumber?

Whether you are in Fort Worth or a nearby community such as Arlington or Mansfield, you can trust the team of professional plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Fort Worth to deliver the highest standards of workmanship and customer care.

Pick up the phone and give us a call today to book an appointment or to speak to our knowledgeable customer service representatives about how we can improve your home and quality of life with reliable plumbing services like repairs, maintenance, and drain cleaning.