Water heaters, whether gas or electric – tankless or conventional, are among the most reliable appliances in the home. Even with good maintenance, though, it seems as though water heaters choose the worst time to quit working, like at dawn’s early light before a big day at the office. That’s when you know it’s time to seek a reliable plumber to replace your problematic water heater.  For all of your water heater repair and installation needs, call “Your Family Plumber”.

The quickest, easiest and most reliable water heater installation/replacement in Memphis is done by a licensed plumber. In most cases, unless the homeowner is a plumber or has experience with water heaters, it’s not wise to try to perform your own repair or replacement. Water heaters are one of the appliances that must comply with local building and safety codes. This means that a local inspector must come and approve the work done, and there’s often a fee for the inspection. Licensed plumbers in Memphis are best equipped to install the work right the first time to pass inspection without incurring excess fees.

Periodic maintenance by a licensed plumber can reduce the chances that the dreaded water-heater sudden death event will occur. Most times, water heaters quit because they fall victim to corrosion or rust. Having no hot water and water leaks from the heater are the most frequent signs of problems that need immediate attention from a licensed plumber. Other signs include:

• Not enough hot water for daily needs
• Rust-colored water
• Water that smells like rotten eggs
• Low-pitched popping or rumbling noise
• High-pitched whining noise

To check for problems with the water heater, be sure to take precautions:

• Turn off power to an electric heater at the circuit breaker or fuse box.
• Turn the pilot control valve on a gas water heater to “pilot” setting.
• Turn off the heater’s water supply.

Once the power and water are shut off, a homeowner can open the water heater to check inside. Sometimes the problem can be solved simply by “flushing out” the water heater to remove scale that forms inside the tank. This scale is caused by minerals in the water, often termed “hard water.” However, if the water heater’s maintenance has been neglected, more often than not the only answer is a replacement water heater.

It’s easier to keep the same fuel type when choosing a new water, because then it won’t be necessary to change the power source. Changing from an electric to a gas water heater or vice versa can be an expensive process, and something that most homeowners would like to avoid. However, it’s frequently possible to increase the size of a water heater, going from a typical 40-gallon tank to a 50-gallon tank, provided there is enough clearance room between the wall and where the appliance sits.

Save yourself time and trouble. Call on a licensed plumber when it’s time for water heater repair or replacement in Memphis.