North Shore Homeowners: If Your Water Heater is Leaking, Don’t Go Frigid Before Calling for Service!

You walk down into your North Shore basement or lower level, and … splash. What’s this? Why is there water where there shouldn’t be?

The culprit usually isn’t hard to determine. Unless you’re facing an unanticipated, really serious plumbing scenario, safe bet is the hot water heater is leaking. It’s inevitable. A water leak in the water heater happens to everyone in North Shore eventually.

You might have even perceived 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 North Shore. They’ll remedy the mess and install a new water heater within hours.

What will the replacement be? Most often, it’s apples for apples. An electric heater is replaced by another. The same holds 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. Relay 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 suffer other misfires. Gas heaters might have problems with the gas valve or burner assembly. Electric heaters can develop issues with the heating element or thermostat. All can be replaced. North Shore residents frequently ask the question, are you better off just replacing the entire unit?

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

Many North Shore homeowners ask 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 negative is cost. Adding 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. Doing so removes sediment collected at the bottom of the tank.

It’s smart to look over your water heater monthly. Watch for changes in its appearance or, obviously, leaks. If something looks off, 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 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.