Where To Go For A Water Heater Repair | Normal, IL

Where-To-Go-For-A-Water-Heater-Repair-_-Normal,-IL--
Photo By Minerva Studio at Shutterstock

Water heaters are an essential part of our everyday lives, they provide hot water for cleaning, washing our clothes, and food preparation. When one breaks down, we soon realize just how important they are. We are going to need them back up and running as soon as possible, but who do you turn to in Normal, IL to do that.

The answer is Covenant Plumbing. We have been offering a local and fully licensed plumbing service since 2006. We offer you honest and trustworthy service. If you want a speedy and affordable water heater repair, call us today.

The Main Types of Water Heaters

  • Tank or Conventional Water Heater – these are the most numerous heaters that you find in people’s homes. They are a simple design, consisting of a large tank holding between 20 to 80 gallons, and are usually heated at the top and bottom by an electric element. The tank of water is heated constantly, so there is always a large volume of hot water on hand. They are cheaper to buy and install but cost more to run because the water is always heated. Because of the large tank, they occupy a large space.

 

  • Tankless Water Heater – these types of heaters do away with a large external tank and produce hot water on demand., using gas or electric burners. They typically provide between 2 to 5 gallons of hot water per minute. They are more expensive to buy and install but have lower running costs, as there is no need to heat a large tank all the time. They take a little time to provide hot water as initially, it needs to be heated from cold.

 

  • Hybrid Water Heater –To overcome the immediate lack of hot water, the hybrid model contains a small tank to provide an instant supply of hot water. This is useful should you require small amounts of hot water regularly, like washing your hands for instance.

 

  • Heat Pump Water Heaters – these heaters are very eco-friendly and extract heat from the surrounding air or ground to heat the water. They cost little to run but are expensive to buy.

As you can see, each of these heaters has advantages and disadvantages. But we at Covenant Plumbing believe that the tankless water heater offers the best value for money. Yes, it is more expensive initially, but you will recover that investment as your energy bills fall.

Shared Problems with all Water Heaters

The best way to avoid the need for a water heater repair is to have your unit serviced on an annual basis. The service will ensure that everything is running smoothly and allows you to have any detects identified and corrected. Your unit will be more energy efficient, saving you money.

Sadly, nothing lasts forever and even a well-maintained unit will suffer an occasional breakdown and need a water heater repair. There are some problems that most water heaters share:

  • It cannot cope with the demand – if your water heater is shutting down when you have all your water appliances on, then it is underpowered for your needs. If it shuts down too often you will eventually need a water heater repair. The only solutions to this problem are to either stagger the use of your appliances during the day or invest in a new upgrade.

 

  • You see limescale forming – if you live in an area of hard water, you probably see limescale covering the heating element in your electric kettle or around the rim of your taps. Limescale is the bane of all water heaters as it gums up all the works, leaving an insoluble deposit on every surface water comes into contact with. You need to have your heater regularly descaled or have a water softener installed by Covenant Plumbing.

 

  • Water is leaking from your heater – there could be many reasons for the leak. Some are simple to fix like a loose connection or a faulty water valve. If your tank has corroded this is a more serious problem, requiring the tank to be replaced. If your heater is over ten years old, it may be more economical to have the entire water heater replaced than just the tank. If you see any leak, call us straight away. Even a small leak can cause a lot of damage to your walls and flooring. A leak can also cause an electrical short, with your unit needing a water heater repair.

 

  • Low water pressure – the main cause of low water pressure is our old friend the leak. It is not always easy to spot one, as most pipework is located behind a wall or under flooring. The first sign of a leak can be a higher-than-expected water bill. If you suspect that you have a leak, you should turn off all your water appliances, then make sure all your water taps are closed. If there were no leaks there should be no movement on your water meter, any movement indicates a leak somewhere. If you have a pressure relief valve (PRV) installed, a fault with this could lower water pressure as well, and you will need a water heater repair to replace it.

 

  • Discolored Water – older water pipes are prone to rust from the inside. The rust flakes are disturbed when water flows and they are deposited as sludge at the bottom of your water tank. Your tank needs to be flushed each year to remove this sludge. A water heater repair will remove any rust particles that give the water a slightly brown color, which does not encourage you to drink water from the tap.

 

  • Rapid changes in water temperature – A fault with a thermostat can cause erratic changes in water temperature. One minute it can be scolding hot and the next freezing cold. Limescale can also cover the thermostat, making it difficult to measure the correct temperature. Whatever the cause, your thermostat needs replacing during a water heater repair in Normal, IL.

Why Choose Covenant Plumbing?

We all have families at Covenant Plumbing in Normal, IL, and we understand just how stressful it can be when your heater breaks down and needs a water heater repair. We aim to fix your problem quickly and at an affordable price. We are honest people and offer you an honest deal.

Skip to content