When you have water heater issues, it’s tempting to try to repair them on your own. If you’re successful, you could save a little money. But is it safe to do so?
Is it worth the risk? Or should you call a professional water heater repair service instead?
These are the very questions we’re going to answer with the following guide. Specifically, we’re going to warn you about several water heater problems that you should never attempt to repair by yourself.
The reason is, these repairs involve water, heat, and natural gas/electricity. These are all very destructive. So, it’s dangerous to work with these elements if you aren’t properly trained.
We repeat: do not attempt to repair your broken water heater without reading this guide first.
1. Water Heater Replacement
There’s so much room for error when you attempt your own water heater installation. You could flood a portion of your house and cause water damage.
Or, you could start a fire if you’re installing a gas-powered water heater. If your water heater is electric, you could be electrocuted when water leaks onto the wiring. There’s simply no good reason to install your own water heater if you don’t have the proper training.
2. Leaking
If you notice your water heater leaking, you need to call a professional plumber right away. As mentioned already, the leaking water can mix with electricity, resulting in dangerous consequences. Furthermore, spilled water can damage your home and cause mold growth.
Most importantly, though, DIY solutions are likely to fail. Then, the leak will continue, unnoticed, causing further damage to your home.
3. Creaking, Rumbling, or Popping Noises
Do you hear creaking, rumbling, or popping noises coming from your water heater? This is usually caused by a buildup of sediment inside the water tank or on the heating element.
The water heater will need to be shut off, drained, and descaled. Otherwise, the sediment buildup will cause catastrophic damage to your water heater. It’s best to let a professional handle this problem before it gets to this point.
4. Discolored Water
Discolored water is a water heater emergency. It indicates some kind of contamination of your water supply, which can seriously impact the health of your household. And it’s usually caused by rust or mineral deposits from your water heater.
In this instance, repairing your water heater definitely requires a professional. You might even need to have your broken water heater replaced. However, it’s possible that the problem can be solved by replacing the anode rod or some other component.
Leave These Water Heater Issues to the Professionals
Never attempt to fix these water heater issues by yourself. If you experience any of the issues above, call a competent water heater repair service right away.
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