Without your home’s water heater, you couldn't enjoy the convenient hot water required for bathing, washing dishes, cooking, and cleaning. That is why it's important to ensure this appliance is in good repair. Use this helpful guide to learn about a few common problems that necessitate electric water heater repair and how to identify them.

3 Common Problems With Electric Water Heaters

1. No Hot Water

If you turn on the tap and never receive any hot water, there's clearly an issue. First, confirm that the appliance is plugged in and check the on switch to make sure it is on. Next, inspect the fuse box to see if you've blown a fuse or tripped a breaker.

If these fixes don’t solve the problem, it could be due to a faulty thermostat or a blown heating element, which can be replaced by a water heater technician.

2. Water Is Too Hot

The temperature of your hot water heater should be set between 120- and 140-degrees, which provides an ideal balance of safety against bacteria and safety against scalding.

If the water comes out so hot that it's painful, the heater’s thermostat may be damaged. Check the settings to make sure the dial has not been bumped up. If the setting is normal, but the water is still too hot, a water heater repair service can install a new thermostat.

3. Leaks

Leaks can result from many issues. A slow leak could be caused by a stuck or faulty pressure relief valve, too much pressure in the tank, overheating, loose bolts, or a bad gasket. These are all relatively minor repairs for a specialist.

However, a pool of water on the floor likely means you have a leaking or corroded water tank that needs to be replaced. To extend the life of your water heater, have it serviced yearly and have the sacrificial anode replaced. This is a metal rod inside the tank that attracts corrosive elements in the water to prevent them from damaging the tank walls.

When you need electric water heater repair, contact Oehl Plumbing, Heating, Electric & Air Conditioning in Coralville, IA. This team of experienced plumbing contractors and residential electricians has served Johnson County and beyond for nearly seven decades. The company also specializes in furnace, sump pump, and air conditioner repair. See what past clients have to say about their work online or call (319) 339-9490 to schedule water heater repair.