Sullivan Residents: If Your Water Heater is Leaking, Don’t Go Cold Before Calling for Service!

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

The villain typically isn’t hard to identify. Unless you’re facing an unanticipated, really serious plumbing situation, safe bet is the hot water heater is leaking. It’s inevitable. A water leak in the water heater catches everyone in Sullivan eventually.

You might have even picked up on 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 get better. Better call Kelly James Service, the water heater repair, replacement and installation specialists in Sullivan. They’ll clean up the mess and put in a new water heater within hours.

What will the replacement be? Typically, it’s apples for apples. An electric heater is replaced with another. Ditto 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. 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 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 problems with the heating element or thermostat. All can be replaced. Sullivan residents frequently ask the question, are you better off just replacing the entire unit?

Some newer Sullivan 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 recognizable by a top blower connected to a PVC vent tube.

Many Sullivan 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 negative 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. This action removes sediment collected at the bottom of the tank.

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

Whether 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.