Electric water heaters are a must have at home. The unfortunate thing is that they tend to develop problems. Hiring an electric water heater repair professional is good, but it takes time to find a good one and it’s usually expensive. Due to this, it’s wise that you learn how troubleshoot your electric water heater.

Electric water heaters tend to develop three main problems: lack of function, smelly water and loss of hot water.

Lack of function

This is when there is no electrical current reaching the water heater. You should start by taking a look at the circuit breaker and ensure that it’s on the “on” position. If it’s in the on position and still not working, you should take a look at the thermostat terminals marked “L1” and “L2.”

To have an easy time, you should use a voltage meter that will help you in knowing whether current is reaching the terminals.

Smelly water

Smelly water is another water heater problem and it comes from the decay of the anode rod. The rod is usually placed inside the water heater in order to prevent the tank from corroding. Bacteria accumulate on the rod thus causing the water to smell bad and have bad taste.

To troubleshoot water heater problem you should remove all the water from the tank and wash it with a solution of 3% peroxide. You should allow the solution to sit in the tank for two hours and then remove it.

Loss of hot water

There are many factors that can bring about this problem. For example, the problem can be brought by a faulty valve, wear and tear, and thermostat and heating element problems.

If the problem is coming from a faulty valve you should replace it. A clear sign that the problem is as a result of wear and tear is the flickering or non-functioning for the pilot lights.

You should take a look at the thermostat and heating elements and ensure that power is reaching them. If power isn’t reaching them, you should carefully remove the wires to the heating elements.

Conclusion

These are electric water heater troubleshooting tips. If you do all of the above and the problem doesn’t go away, you should seek water heater repair services. Here you only need to contact a water heater repair professional who will repair the equipment for you. You should note that there are some water heater problems that can’t be repaired; therefore, you need to buy a new electric water heater.