Can Gas Hot Water Heaters Be Repaired

Go to the article gas water heater thermocouple issues for information on this common repair.

Can gas hot water heaters be repaired.

Answer when flooding damages your water heater for the safety of your home and family repair is never recommended. Due to the conductivity of water along with its corrosive properties all the operational controls are rendered unsafe. A bad gas valve will not allow any gas to go to the burner or pilot light. Water heaters can occasionally be repaired by replacing a few key elements.

Let s think about common problems you may encounter. If you already used a digital multimeter to test the disconnected thermocouple for around 20mv when holding down the pilot button and a sparked lit pilot your gas pilot aluminum tube may still need disassembly and cleaning sometimes of an inner inline orifice near the flame tip to provide the sufficient heat to the thermocouple tip during normal operation of the water heater. Depending on where the leak occurs you may be able to fix the problem before scrapping. You may be able to repair your water heater if.

The unit must be replaced as soon as possible. A t p valve and plumbing leaks can be repaired but a leaky water heater tank cannot. A leak does not always doom a hot water tank. Gas hot water heater troubleshooting usually leads you to the thermocouple.

If your water heater has been under water an inch or more the sensitive safety components have likely been damaged beyond repair. A leaky water heater could be the result of a faulty t p temperature and pressure relief valve or a leak from a nearby plumbing connection or even the tank itself. If you have had your water heater for 10 years or more you may find it more cost effective to simply install a new unit rather than paying for repairs. If your water heater s gas or electric has been submerged in water do not attempt to repair install or operate the product.

Should a leaking hot water heater be repaired or replaced. The unit is less than ten years old. The main reason for installing new units is damage to the tank as this cannot be repaired. If your water heater is not very old and it s not doing its job it might need an easy repair instead of a costly replacement.

Rheem manufacturing also advises on a technical service bulletin titled submerged water heaters. Regular maintenance will extend the life of your water heater and some repairs such as replacing a pressure relief valve or heating element are pretty simple. Digical getty images. However if you have a leak if your water heater is older than 8 12 years or you just wish to upgrade and cut your energy expense it is time for a new heater.