Gas water heaters are common to almost every home across developed countries all around the world. They’re essential for comfort and convenience, serving to provide residents with hot water for bathing, cleaning, laundry, and other household tasks. Most of us don’t give our gas water heater a second thought that is until it stops working unexpectedly. Suddenly do not have hot water, something that you take for granted can be a real inconvenience. Fortunately, this situation can be avoided or remedied, with proper maintenance or, in the worst circumstances, repairs. The professionals who maintain and repair gas water heaters are known as gas water heater repair and maintenance services providers.
Currently, there are many different shapes, sizes, and types of water heaters on the market. Electric and gas tank-style water heaters remain the most common in the world over. The only differences between electric and gas water heaters are found in the fuel source and heat exchange system. In electric water heaters, a strong electrical current is used to run through resistance coils. When electricity encounters resistance, it generates heat that is transferred to the water. Gas water heaters, on the other hand, use a natural gas burner array to heat the water – like a gas stove or the burners in a gas grill but optimized for surface area to heat the tank of water. Aside from those fundamental differences, though, the plumbing and operation are mostly the same.
Aside from these conventional designs of water heaters, there are also newer types like tankless or instant systems, heat pump-based designs, solar water heaters, and condensing tank systems. Many gas water heater repair and maintenance service companies who repair and service gas water heaters also repair different other types of water heaters. If the problem is not repairable, and a new gas water heater might be required, these gas water heater repair and maintenance service companies can walk you through the various options available to you for a replacement. Fortunately, though, most water heaters tend to last for many years, which can be extended further with proper maintenance by gas water heater repair and maintenance services.
In this article, we’ll offer some considerations about why leaving the repair and maintenance of gas water heaters to professionals from gas water heater repair and maintenance services, highlight the importance and benefits of regular maintenance, and talk about common problems and their associated repairs.
Before we begin, we want to take a minute to provide some critical cautionary advice to consumers. For many, it may be tempting to save money and try to diagnose and repair water heater on their own, rather than calling a gas water heater repair and maintenance services company, but usually, this is a bad idea. First, it is unlikely that you will be able to determine the cause of the issue without professional training. Second, there is a great deal of risk involved – if you open or close valves improperly, or damage components or pipes in the water heater, you very well may make the situation worse, causing flooding or other damage to your home. You can even damage your gas water heater, making a fixable problem into one that can only be solved with a whole gas water heater replacement. Lastly, as gas water heaters use natural gas, there is a real risk of leaks or other problems developing that could result in hazardous conditions in your home, putting your home at risk. It is much more comfortable, and far safer, to leave diagnosis and repair work to professionals from gas water heater repair and maintenance services.
Some maintenance tasks can indeed be performed by consumers, with little to no risk. Usually, these tasks, such as flushing the tank once a year or more frequently, to release any sediment buildup, are spelled out in the instruction manual or owner’s manual that comes with a gas water heater. If you are not sure how to do this or other maintenance tasks, you can certainly hire a pro from a gas water heater repair and maintenance service and ask them to show you how to do these tasks. Then, next time, you can do that yourself if you choose so.
Unsurprisingly, gas water heaters need maintenance just like every other appliance and system in your home. Gas water heater repair and maintenance services companies typically offer an annual check-up or tune-up service for home gas water heaters, to ensure that the components are in excellent condition, everything is working as it should and proper maintenance is conducted, etc. It helps to minimize the risk of more severe problems developing and maximizing the life (and therefore value for your investment) of your gas water heater.
Typical annual gas water heater maintenance generally includes the activities listed below. As we mentioned above, however, some of these tasks (like periodic flushing of the tank) can be done by consumers, if they are clear on the instructions or have seen a demonstration from gas water heater maintenance and repair professional on how to do it correctly. If you have any doubts or uncertainties, though, our advice is to leave it to the professionals from gas water heater repair and maintenance services provider, as part of an annual check-up. These maintenance check-ups typically include:
Maintenance services from gas water heater repair and maintenance services, along with regular maintenance by consumers themselves, is the best way to ensure a trouble-free operation of gas water heaters. In addition to extending and maximizing the life of the gas water heater, maintenance can pre-empt inconvenient breakdowns and hassles. That is not a pleasant event when your hot water stops working in the middle of the wintertime! If your gas water heater breaks down and requires professional repair or problem diagnosis, then gas water heater repair and maintenance services can help get you out.
When a problem does develop with your natural gas-fired water heater, it may often not be immediately apparent what repairs needed. Professionals from gas water heater repair and maintenance services have the tools and experience to diagnose all the issues that may develop and know the best solutions and strategies to repair those gas water heater problems quickly, efficiently. Some most common issues with gas water heaters include: