Your water heater works hard to ensure you have hot water running whenever you turn on the faucet. These appliances often suffer from problems that, if left unattended, can lead to the total failure of the system. Here is why your gas water heater isn't working.

Issues with Water Temperature

Too high or low temperature requires you to adjust your water heater's thermostat. In some cases, the thermostat may not be the issue. In such cases, you need to ask a technician to determine whether you have sediment build-up inside the tank. These deposits settle in your tank and begin to clog the heating element in your tank.

Another issue with water temperature is the dip tube. If it's broken or damaged, it will not direct the flow of cold water to the base of your tank to be heated but mixes it with hot water.  The gas line and pilot light also affect the water temperature in your water heater. The gas line valve should be opened, and the pilot light needs to be on. If relighting the pilot light doesn't resolve the problem, you need to consult a water heater plumber.

Strange Sounds

Since a water heater has minimal moving parts, you shouldn't hear any strange noises inside it. If your water heater is hissing or making strange sounds, you need to consult a plumber. The main cause of sounds coming from your water heater is if the air is stuck in the tank. Eventually, your heater will have an accumulation of sediment.

When sediment accumulates in your water heater, it holds onto air which is released when the tank heats up. You can prevent this sediment from accumulating by flushing your tank regularly. If the sound persists after flushing the tank, consult a plumber.

Water Leakage

If your water heater is leaking, brace yourself for water damage. The damage can ruin your possessions, floors, and walls. The main reasons for water leakage include an old tank, drain valve, and too much pressure.

Tanks that are older than a decade leak more often than new heaters. This is because aging causes the parts of the heater to wear out. Leakages in old heaters are caused by the rust in the tank. This causes corrosion, and water tends to exit the tank through cracks. To remedy this fault, you should replace the heater.

The drain valve cleans and empties the water heater tank. When this valve is loose, water tends to leak through. Leaks at the base of the valve mean the heater isn't watertight. This means you should fix a new valve.

Excess pressure is another cause of water leakage in water heaters. Pressure arises because of the steam from hot water that fills the void space. When the steam is too much, it leads to high water pressure. As a result, water leaks through cracks in the heater to get rid of this pressure.

For more information, contact plumbers near you.