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

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

The reason usually isn’t hard to identify. Unless you’re facing an unforeseen, really serious plumbing situation, chances are the hot water heater is leaking. It’s unavoidable. A water leak in the water heater happens to everyone in Oak Hill eventually.

You might have even spotted warning signs. 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 get better. Better call Kelly James Service, the water heater repair, replacement and installation specialists in Oak Hill. They’ll clean up 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 by another. The same holds for gas heaters.

Before contacting 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 their toll.

Calcium is the biggest enemy. The mineral erodes a heater’s mechanicals. Even when using municipal water, a water softener is recommended 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 problems with the heating element or thermostat. All can be replaced. Oak Hill homeowners frequently ask the question, are you better off just replacing the entire unit?

Some newer Oak Hill homes have power vent water heaters, which might stop heating water 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 identifiable by a top blower connected to a PVC vent tube.

Many Oak Hill homeowners ask about tankless water heaters. These units are mounted on a wall and, instead of storing hot water, heat it on demand. Theoretically they create endless hot water. Their potential drawback is cost. Adding one requires significant new plumbing infrastructure, which adds up.

Can you increase 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 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!

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.