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

You go down into your West Allis basement or lower level, and … splash. What’s this? Why is there water everywhere?

The reason typically isn’t hard to find. Unless you’re facing an unforeseen, really serious plumbing situation, safe bet is the hot water heater is leaking. It’s unavoidable. A water leak in the water heater happens to everyone in West Allis eventually.

You might have even noticed signals. Was less hot water suddenly available? Did hot showers mysteriously turn cold? The water heater was sending a message.

If the water heater’s leaking, it’s not going to get better. Better call Kelly James Service, the water heater repair, replacement and installation specialists in West Allis. They’ll halt 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. Ditto 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. Relay this information, so they bring a replacement.

Water heaters survive 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 recommended to remove calcium.

Water heaters can sustain other misfires. 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. West Allis residents frequently ask the question, are you better off just replacing the entire unit?

Some newer West Allis 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 identifiable by a top blower connected to a PVC vent tube.

Many West Allis homeowners inquire about tankless water heaters. These units sit on a wall and, instead of storing hot water, heat it on demand. Theoretically they provide endless hot water. Their potential negative is cost. Adding one requires significant 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. Doing so removes sediment collected at the bottom of the tank.

It’s prudent to inspect your water heater monthly. Watch for changes in its appearance or, obviously, leaks. If something looks off, 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 generating 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.