No hot water is one of the leading reasons for hot water heater repair in Houston, TX. There are many reasons to why you may not have hot water.  Multiple components can wear out or break down on your hot water heater, resulting in hot water not being distributed through the faucets and showers.  If you are having problems and need hot water heater repair in Houston, TX then give Benjamin Franklin Plumbing a call and we will happily assist you in resolving the problem.

Electric Hot Water Heaters

Below we will go over a few reasons why an electric hot water heater may be having problems with dispersing or making hot water.  We do not recommend working on electric water heaters yourself. If you are not qualified with working with electricity, it can be a very dangerous; even deadly. If you think you have an issue and need water heater repair in Houston, TX, Katy, Sugar Land or Rosenberg then give us a call.

  • Grounded Element – A heating element that has been ground out will fail to produce hot water.
  • Grounded Thermostat – A thermostat failure may be the culprit. If the thermostat has shorted out it will need to be replaced.
  • Accidental Grounding – If there are any objects that should not be located on the water heater that has shorted across the wiring connections then this may be the problem.
  • Tripped Reset Button – If the reset button trips continuously then this is a sign of a failed reset button and it will need to be replaced.
  • Wire Short – Frayed, scratched, corroded wiring could lead to a direct short. Replacement of all the defective wiring should be done as soon as possible.
  • Water Leak – If the hot water heater is leaking water then the elements can oftentimes be tightened to resolve this. However, if tightening does not work then the hot water heater may need to be replaced.
  • Undersized Fuse or Breaker – Inspect the fuse and breaker for the hot water heater and make sure it is receiving the correct amount of amperage.
  • Weak Breaker – Like all things, circuit breakers will eventually fail and need to be replaced.
  • Gas Water Heaters
  • Gas powered hot water heaters will have a different set of problems when compared to their electric counterparts. Below is a list of a few reasons why a gas powered hot water heater may not be producing hot water. We do not recommend working on gas water heaters yourself and if you suspect you have a problem with yours and you need water heater repair in Houston, TX, Katy, Sugar Land or Rosenberg then give us a call.
  • No Gas – Water heaters do not prevent gas from reaching the pilot light and burner.  In the event that there is no gas then inspect the water heater to ensure that the gas is on and the gas valve itself is not closed. If not, contact your gas supplier to see if there is an outage or a possible gas leak that will need gas line repair. You could also contact your local plumbing company for hot water heater repair in Houston, TX and a plumber will come and assess the situation.
  • Pilot Light – Inspect the pilot light to see if it is lit. In the event it is not and you do have gas flow then you will need to check the following components:
  • Thermocouple – You should be able to see the edge of the thermocouple where the flame of the pilot light should be. The thermocouple should be tightly connected to the gas line. If you see no problems here, then inspect for bends or kinks in the thermocouple.
  • Air in Line –  If there is gas flow, then try relighting the pilot light a few times to try and force air out of the line.
  • Clogged Pilot Orifice – It is possible that the pilot orifice has become clogged with debris. This can be removed and cleaned.
  • Clogged, Bent or Defective Supply Line –   If the gas supply line is clogged, bent or damaged this can cause problems with heating water and it should be replaced.
  • Defective Gas Control Valve – In the event everything else has checked out then the gas control valve may have become defective. There is no solution to fixing this. However, gas control valves are inexpensive and can be readily replaced.
  • Dirty or Clogged Burner – Debris can build up on the main burner and this will prevent adequate heating or it can very well block the ignition of the burner itself. The burner can be removed and cleaned as necessary.
  • Ventilation – The flue can oftentimes be blocked by debris or even pests. This can be a pretty dirty job to clean out.
  • Inadequate Hot Water
  • In the event that the hot water heater is still functioning, but not producing hot water as intended or is intermittently producing hot water, you possibly may have components in the hot water heater that are on their last legs and will fail soon. If you are unsure of what to do then give us a call for hot water heater repair in Houston, TX.
  • Check Thermostats – If the desired temperature is set correctly on the thermostat, then the thermostat itself may be having problems and will need to be removed and replaced.
  • Inspect Heating Elements – Debris can build up on the heating elements over time and this will prevent water from being able to be heated adequately. Heating elements themselves can also fail over due time.  Fortunately this is a quick fix as heating elements can be installed in only a few minutes time.
  • Examine Dip Tube – This is a very uncommon problem as dip tubes do not fail that often, but it is possible. If this is the case then it will need to be replaced.
  • Loose Wiring – Possibly loose wiring could be the issue which would explain the hot water heater capability at producing heated water intermittently. The unit will need to be turned off and the wiring should be cleaned of any corrosion and tightened. Working with electrical components can be very dangerous even deadly and you should consider hiring a professional for water heater repair in Houston, TX if you are not sure of what you are doing.
  • Tank Leak –   If the water heater is leaking water then not only can this lead to water damage but it can also possibly lead to a fire.  You should contact Ben Franklin Plumbing for hot water heater repair in Houston, TX to come assess the situation and get this handled right away.  We also offer hot water heater repair in Katy, TX, Rosenberg and Sugar Land also.