This web site provides general information about water heaters. If you are experiencing water heater problems, please call an expert before it’s too late. No one wants to go without hot water or have a water heater tank leak water all over their floor.

Standard gas and electric water heaters use an insulated storage tank.

Water heaters are generally reliable but over time they can develop problems:

• No hot water
• Inadequate hot water
• Rust colored water
• Rotten egg odor
• Low rumbling or popping noise
• Higher pitched whining
• Water leaking around base of heater

No Hot Water is Produced

Possible Causes

• Faulty gas pilot
• Faulty gas thermocouple
• Faulty gas pilot control valve
• Faulty electric thermostat
• Faulty upper electric heating element

Inadequate Hot Water

Possible Causes

• Unit is undersized for water heating demands
• Broken or damaged dip tube allowing cold and hot water to mix in tank
• Faulty plumbing installation has crossed cold and hot water connections
• Gas supply or control problems
• Faulty electric lower or upper heating element or high or low heating element thermostat.
• A constant supply of lukewarm water during a shower is indicative of a defective upper heating element. Short duration hot water supply during a shower is indicative of a defective lower heating element.

Rust Colored Water

Possible Causes

• Corrosion occurring inside glass lined tank
• Sacrificial anode rod is failing (anode rods dissolve slowly to prevent rusting in the tank)

Rotten Egg Smell

Possible Causes

• Bacteria in the tank sediment fed from hydrogen gas created from decay of sacrificial anode

Low Rumbling or Popping Noise

Possible Causes

• Noise heard is sound of boiling water. Excessive buildup of sediment in bottom of tank is causing overheating of tank bottom and boiling of water to occur.

Higher Pitched Whining (electric water heater)

Possible Causes

• Buildup of scale material on electrical heating elements