Trusted Excavation Services in Wayne, NJ

There may be nothing wrong with your water heater. It may actually be that your faucets and shower heads are the culprits. Some older shower heads put out up to 5 gallons per minute. Newer shower heads only allow around 2.5 gallons of volume per minute. Switching to lower volume shower heads and faucets can sometimes solve the problem. It could also be that your water heaters' dip tube needs to be replaced.

The most serious cause of water leaks from water heaters is a rusted out tank which requires you to replace the entire water heater. If your water heater is not near the end of the manufacturers' life estimate it could be a much simpler and less costly problem. The pressure relief valve, usually located at the top of the unit, could be leaking. The cause could be a defective or worn out valve or one that simply needs tightening. Your owner manual should have detailed information about repairing or replacing the valve.

There are a number or possible causes for this problem. It could be that the flapper isn't seating properly. The flapper can accumulate a thin layer of scale or a slippery film over time which can cause the water seal to fail. Cleaning or replacing the flapper will correct this problem. Another cause can be a kinked or tangled lift chain which is easily fixed as well. If neither of these is the problem it could be a worn out flush valve. There are a number of different kinds of assemblies available at any hardware store, plumbing supply company and most discount centers and installation is fairly straightforward.

In many cases the cause is a tripped high-temperature cutoff which can be fixed by simply pressing the reset button. If that doesn't work it could be a faulty heating element. If that is the case you will have to replace the element.

The answer depends on a number of factors including the number of people in your household, number of bathtubs and / or showers, whether your home has a dishwasher, washing machine or whirlpool bathtub and whether your water heater is a natural gas or electric unit. Typically, for a family of 4, a 40 gallon gas water heater will be sufficient for your needs. If your water heater is electric you would want to consider a 50 - 60 gallon unit. Consult your plumbing contractor or water heater dealer to ensure the unit you choose will serve your needs.