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

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

The source usually isn’t hard to find. Unless you’re facing a sudden, really serious plumbing scenario, chances are the hot water heater is leaking. It’s inevitable. A water leak in the water heater strikes everyone in Delafield eventually.

You might have even noticed 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 Delafield. 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. 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. Share this information, so they bring a replacement.

Water heaters last 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 eats away a heater’s mechanicals. Even when using municipal water, a water softener is recommended to remove calcium.

Water heaters can sustain other problems. 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. Delafield residents frequently ask the question, are you better off just replacing the entire unit?

Some newer Delafield homes have power vent water heaters, which might stop operating 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 Delafield homeowners ask about tankless water heaters. These units mount 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 substantial 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. Doing so removes sediment collected at the bottom of the tank.

It’s prudent to inspect 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 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.