Lake Ripley Homeowners: If Your Water Heater is Leaking, Don’t Go Frozen Before Calling for Service!

You walk down into your Lake Ripley basement or lower level, and … splash. What’s this? Why is there water on the floor?

The villain usually isn’t hard to determine. Unless you’re facing a sudden, really serious plumbing problem, safe bet is the hot water heater is leaking. It’s inescapable. A water leak in the water heater happens to everyone in Lake Ripley eventually.

You might have even spotted signals. Was less hot water suddenly available? Did hot showers mysteriously turn cold? The water heater was transmitting 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 Lake Ripley. They’ll fix the mess and install 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 operate 10 years on average. Their lives are an endless battle against contents of the water they heat. High acidity, iron and calcium all take their toll.

Calcium is the biggest enemy. The mineral erodes 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 issues with the gas valve or burner assembly. Electric heaters can encounter issues with the heating element or thermostat. All can be replaced. Lake Ripley homeowners frequently ask the question, are you better off just replacing the entire unit?

Some newer Lake Ripley houses have power vent water heaters, which might stop functioning for a totally different reason. Power vent heaters use a flame vapor sensor, which turns 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 Lake Ripley homeowners inquire about tankless water heaters. These units sit on a wall and, instead of storing hot water, heat it on demand. Theoretically they create endless hot water. Their potential drawback is cost. Installing one requires substantial new plumbing infrastructure, which adds up.

Can you extend the life of your water heater? Sure. Drain a few gallons from its lower drain valve twice a year. This action removes sediment collected at the bottom of the tank.

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

If your hot water heater is leaking, shutting off, or just not producing 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.