For both traditional and tankless water heaters, the thermostat is one of the most frequent culprits when it comes to malfunctions.
Learn how to recognize the symptoms of a faulty thermostat so that you can get your hot water situation back under control as soon as possible.
Your hot water heater is a vital appliance in your home.
It supplies hot water for bathing, washing clothes, and washing dishes, so if it starts acting up (or failing to act, as the case may be), it can impact many different areas of your domestic life.
There are a number of different things that can go wrong with these appliances, but one of the most common problems is a faulty thermostat.
While this type of malfunction can be irksome, repairing or replacing a thermostat is one of the least invasive repair jobs that can crop up when it comes to water heater service.
Learn how to recognize the signs of a broken thermostat and find out how to get everything back in working order.
The main signal that you have thermostat issues will be the temperature of your water.
When we think of water heater temperature problems, our minds usually jump to the scenario of having no hot water.
However, a broken thermostat can also tip the water temperature in the opposite direction and can mean that your hot water gets way too hot.
While this may not seem like a big deal, consider trying to wash your hands or take a shower in scalding water! When a thermostat in a traditional or tankless water heater is on the fritz, you could just as easily encounter water hot enough to cause burns as well as water that's too cold for your everyday uses.
If you observe that you no longer seem to have any control over your water temperature, chances are that there's an issue with your water heater's thermostat.
Or, to be more precise, that there's an issue with one or more of your thermostats.
Most water heaters actually have two thermostats--one for an upper and one for a lower heating element.
It may be that one or both of these have failed or are somehow misaligned so that they're not reading the water temperature correctly.
In terms of diagnosing or fixing problems in this area, your best bet is to call a professional handyman or plumber for assistance.
Because accessing the thermostats can be complicated and dangerous, you should only attempt it on your own if you have specific training and experience in this area.
No one should have to deal with water that's too hot or too cold.
If you are experiencing either of these thermostat-related issues, contact a water heater pro today to get everything back on an even keel.