Fort Atkinson Residents: If Your Water Heater is Leaking, Don’t Go Cold Before Calling for Service!

You step down into your Fort Atkinson basement or lower level, and … splash. What’s this? Why is there water where there shouldn’t be?

The reason typically isn’t hard to find. Unless you’re facing a sudden, really serious plumbing scenario, safe bet is the hot water heater is leaking. It’s unavoidable. A water leak in the water heater happens to everyone in Fort Atkinson eventually.

You might have even spotted symptoms. Was less hot water suddenly available? Did hot showers mysteriously turn cold? The water heater was transmitting a message.

If the water heater’s leaking, it’s not going to stop. Better call Kelly James Service, the water heater repair, replacement and installation specialists in Fort Atkinson. They’ll remedy the mess and install a new water heater within hours.

What will the replacement be? Most often, it’s apples for apples. An electric heater is replaced with another. The same holds for gas heaters.

Before contacting Kelly James Service about your hot water heater leaking, note the capacity (in gallons), brand and height of the unit. Pass along this information, so they bring a replacement.

Water heaters operate 10 years on average. Their lives are an endless battle against contents of the water they heat. High acidity, iron and calcium all take a toll.

Calcium is the biggest enemy. The mineral destroys a heater’s mechanicals. Even when using municipal water, a water softener is suggested to remove calcium.

Water heaters can suffer other problems. Gas heaters might have issues with the gas valve or burner assembly. Electric heaters can develop problems with the heating element or thermostat. All can be replaced. Fort Atkinson homeowners frequently ask the question, are you better off just replacing the entire unit?

Some newer Fort Atkinson houses have power vent water heaters, which might stop working for a totally different reason. Power vent heaters have a flame vapor sensor, which turns off the burner if certain flammables – such as paint cans – are detected nearby. These water heaters are recognizable by a top blower connected to a PVC vent tube.

Many Fort Atkinson homeowners inquire about tankless water heaters. These units mount on a wall and, instead of storing hot water, heat it on demand. Theoretically they provide endless hot water. Their potential negative is cost. Installing one requires substantial new plumbing infrastructure, which adds up.

Can you extend the life of your water heater? Sure. Drain a few gallons from its lower drain valve twice a year. This action removes sediment collected at the bottom of the tank.

It’s smart to inspect your water heater monthly. Watch for changes in its appearance or, obviously, leaks. If something looks unusual, and it’s getting older, consider having Kelly James Service replace the heater proactively. It’s preferable to facing a small flood!

If your hot water heater is leaking, shutting off, or just not producing as much hot water as you want, keep one name in mind: Kelly James Service. Their promise is to maximize your hot water, and minimize unwelcome surprises … such as wet feet.