“It seems pretty clear that our water heater is on its last legs,” Diane said. “Sometimes there’s hot water, sometimes there’s not. There’s no rhyme or reason to it. So my question for the New York City plumbers is this: can a water heater be fixed?”
What seems like a simple question – can a water heater be fixed – is more complex than it might first appear. There are several different types of technology people refer to as water heaters. There’s the conventional water heater with a storage tank; there are tankless water heaters; there are point of use water heaters; there are water heaters that are integrated with the home’s boiler; and more.
Once you know what kind of water heater you’re dealing with, the next question is what’s wrong with it. Generally the homeowner doesn’t know the answer to this. They know they have limited or no hot water, and that’s the extent of the situation. The role of the plumber in this scenario is to inspect the water heater and find out what’s going wrong. There are several different components in each type of water heater, and they can all break or fail in unique ways.
Can Water Heaters Be Repaired?
After the inspection, the nature of the problem with the water heater should be clear. Some water heater issues can be repaired. However, there are certain common issues that occur near the end of conventional water heaters useful life that generally require replacement. These include tank failure and damage or corrosion to the heating elements.
Choosing to have a new water heater installed is an opportunity to improve your home’s efficiency. Take the time to research your options. There are choices that consume less power to heat the water. This is better for the environment and your utility bill. Older water heaters can be surprisingly inefficient. Your New York City plumber can install the new water heater so you can start saving money right away.
