You rely on your water heater for many of the most important activities you do during the day for your health and comfort. You use hot water to shower, wash your face, clean your home, and prepare meals. If your water heater is not keeping your water as warm as you would like it to, repairs can seem urgent. But you may delay water heater repair out of fear that the water heater may need replacement.

Actually, one of the most common repair needs for water heater that is a fairly simple fix for a trained contractor is a broken dip tube. The dip tube is a long plastic pipe that lets cold water in to the bottom of the unit. There is a burner or electric heating element located toward the bottom of the tank. Once the water heats up, it rises up to the top of the tank. Then, a small tube at the top of the tank allows the warm water to exit. The dip tube can fall into a state of disrepair, but a trained technician may be able to solve the trouble quickly.

There are a few things that could go wrong with the dip tube over time. It may develop small cracks that allow cold water to seep into the tank, lingering at the top. This means that you may notice bouts of cold or lukewarm water from your sink or shower rather than an uninterrupted stream of hot water. The dip tube may even simply break in half. When this happens, you might run out of hot water far too quickly.

This shouldn’t be a problem you have to live with. Call a technician for repairs as soon as you suspect a problem. And be sure to schedule annual water heater maintenance as well. This involves a few key adjustments to the system as well as a thorough examination of your entire unit to make sue something like a broken dip tube doesn’t go undetected for too long.

Count on the people at Bartels Heating & Cooling for quality water heaters and services in Hamilton. We pride ourselves on quality customer service and strive to keep your experience as positive as possible.

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Your water heater helps you accomplish many of the most important small tasks you need to complete around the home, including washing the dishes, doing a load of laundry, and showering. So when your water heater stops working entirely, you know to call a technician for immediate repairs. But what if your unit hasn’t failed completely? How can you tell that you need to call a specialist for water heater repair?

In general, when there’s a problem with your water heater, you need to call for repairs as soon as possible to ensure your system can continue to run smoothly and efficiently. Here are some of the reasons you’ll need to call a water heater specialist.

• Rusty Discoloration: If your water turns a reddish-brown color whenever you turn on the hot water tap, you may have a serious water heater problem. If the tank is rusty, it’s at risk of corroding, and a rusted-through tank is usually beyond repair. Rust in the tank is often a sign that you need a new unit, but this isn’t necessarily the source of the problem. A rusty anode rod, the component that’s meant to attract elements that may cause the unit to rust, will only require an inexpensive parts replacement.
• Sounds: While noises may be a sign of other problems, one common reason for sounds inside of your unit is sediment. If sediment builds up inside of your tank, it may bang against the sides. A water heater repair technician can drain sediment from the tank and check for any damages.
• Hot Water Runs Out Quickly: If you’ve owned your unit for a fairly long time, you know how long it usually takes for your water heater to run out of hot water. If your hot water runs out much faster than it once did, you may have a pipe that has moved out of place, a problem with the heating element, or thermostat issues.

If you have other questions about your water heater in Hamilton, OH, call the experts at Bartels Heating & Cooling today!

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