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

You go down into your Portland 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 locate. Unless you’re facing a sudden, really serious plumbing situation, safe bet is the hot water heater is leaking. It’s inescapable. A water leak in the water heater strikes everyone in Portland eventually.

You might have even spotted signals. Was less hot water suddenly available? Did hot showers mysteriously 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 Portland. They’ll repair 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 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 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 a toll.

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

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

Some newer Portland houses 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 Portland 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 provide endless hot water. Their potential drawback is cost. Adding one requires significant 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 accumulated at the bottom of the tank.

It’s prudent 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 less trouble than facing a small flood!

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