Jefferson County Residents: If Your Water Heater is Leaking, Don’t Go Frozen Before Calling for Service!

You walk down into your Jefferson County basement or lower level, and … splash. What’s this? Why is there water everywhere?

The source usually isn’t hard to locate. Unless you’re facing an unexpected, really serious plumbing scenario, it’s likely the hot water heater is leaking. It’s unavoidable. A water leak in the water heater catches everyone in Jefferson County eventually.

You might have even noticed signals. Was less hot water suddenly available? Did hot showers inexplicably turn cold? The water heater was sending a message.

If the water heater’s leaking, it’s not going to stop. Better call Kelly James Service, the water heater repair, replacement and installation specialists in Jefferson County. They’ll fix the mess and put in a new water heater within hours.

What will the replacement be? Usually, it’s apples for apples. An electric heater is replaced with another. Ditto for gas heaters.

Before calling Kelly James Service about your hot water heater leaking, note the capacity (in gallons), brand and height of the unit. Share this information, so they bring a replacement.

Water heaters survive 10 years on average. Their lives are an endless battle against contents of the water they heat. High acidity, iron and calcium all take a toll.

Calcium is the biggest enemy. The mineral destroys a heater’s mechanicals. Even when using municipal water, a water softener is advisable to remove calcium.

Water heaters can experience other problems. Gas heaters might have problems with the gas valve or burner assembly. Electric heaters can encounter issues with the heating element or thermostat. All can be replaced. Jefferson County homeowners frequently ask the question, are you better off just replacing the entire unit?

Some newer Jefferson County houses have power vent water heaters, which might stop working for a totally different reason. Power vent heaters have a flame vapor sensor, which shuts off the burner if certain flammables – such as paint cans – are detected nearby. These water heaters are identifiable by a top blower connected to a PVC vent tube.

Many Jefferson County homeowners inquire about tankless water heaters. These units sit on a wall and, instead of storing hot water, heat it on demand. Theoretically they provide endless hot water. Their potential drawback is cost. Installing one requires significant new plumbing infrastructure, which adds up.

Can you boost the life of your water heater? Sure. Drain a few gallons from its lower drain valve twice a year. Doing so removes sediment accumulated at the bottom of the tank.

It’s prudent to inspect your water heater monthly. Watch for changes in its appearance or, obviously, leaks. If something looks changed, and it’s getting older, consider having Kelly James Service replace the heater proactively. It’s better than facing a small flood!

Whether your hot water heater is leaking, shutting off, or just not generating as much hot water as you want, keep one name in mind: Kelly James Service. Their promise is to maximize your hot water, and minimize unwelcome surprises … such as wet feet.