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

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

The villain typically isn’t hard to locate. Unless you’re facing an unforeseen, really serious plumbing situation, it’s likely the hot water heater is leaking. It’s inescapable. A water leak in the water heater happens to everyone in Waterville eventually.

You might have even perceived warning signs. Was less hot water suddenly available? Did hot showers inexplicably 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 Waterville. They’ll remedy the mess and put in a new water heater within hours.

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

Before calling Kelly James Service about your hot water heater leaking, note the capacity (in gallons), brand and height of the unit. Share 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 advisable to remove calcium.

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

Some newer Waterville houses have power vent water heaters, which might stop working for a totally different reason. Power vent heaters use 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 Waterville homeowners ask 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. Installing 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 look over 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 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.