What people keep running into with water heater
Complaints tagged water heater, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
49 recurring problems · 450 people · 13 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 2Air coming out of hot water lines onlyTrapped air in hot water lines is often caused by a failing or recently replaced water heater that generates gas or allows air to enter the tank. Running the taps only offers a temporary fix because the underlying source of the air inside the system hasn't been resolved.
- 2Is an indirect water heater worth the installation cost?Converting from a standard to an indirect water heater often requires over $4,000 in installation and boiler re-venting fees, on top of the tank itself costing double a conventional unit. This massive upfront expense makes it difficult to figure out if the potential gas savings and longer lifespan will ever actually pay off.
- 2Debris floating in water cistern keeps coming backWater cisterns in older flats can accumulate floating debris, bags, and towels that keep returning even after multiple cleanings. This persistent junk eventually plugs up attached plumbing fixtures, such as bidet showers connected to the flush tank inlet.
- 2Why does only the hot water smell like sulfur?Hot water heaters develop a sulfur or rotten egg smell when sulfate-reducing bacteria react with magnesium anode rods inside the tank. This makes the water unpleasant to use and often leads tenants and homeowners to mistakenly believe the well water itself needs cleaning.
- 2Why is my water heater getting hotter than the thermostat setting?Water heaters can overheat beyond their set temperature when a thermostat fails or sticks, causing dangerously hot water at the tap. Since renting a home limits your ability to service major appliances yourself, this requires contacting your landlord immediately to prevent scalding risks and potential equipment damage.
- 2How do I know what size tankless water heater I need?Tankless water heater sizing depends on your home's peak flow rate (GPM), which is calculated by adding up the flow rates of all appliances and showers you might use at the same time. Undersizing the unit will leave you with a shortage of hot water, while matching it correctly to your household demand ensures you do not fall short during peak usage.
- 2Green corrosion on new water heater PR valveGreen buildup can form on the top of the pressure relief valve within the first week of operation, even if there is no visible leak. This unexpected corrosion leaves owners dreading whether they can remedy the issue or if they must replace the entire water heater.
- 2Connecting a copper tee directly to a water heater inletIt is often unclear whether short brass nipples and unions are redundant when putting a copper tee right on top of the inlet. This uncertainty stalls installations for people relying on family help to avoid $3,000 plumbing fees, especially when they cannot afford to replace their existing galvanized pipes.
- 2Will a drip pan catch a bursting water heater?Standard drip pans cannot handle the massive volume of water released when a water heater suffers a sudden internal failure. Rusted heating element threads cause enormous leaks that bypass the pan entirely and completely flood the first floor. This leaves people trapped replacing the exact same unit every few years because they cannot afford an alternative system.
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Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.