Possible Causes of Low Water Heater Output

Like other systems, it’s important that you be able to identify when your water heater is developing issues as soon as possible. The faster you can identify the signs of a problem, and have it repaired, the better off your water heater will be. One common symptom of a problem with the water heater is consistently low output from the system. Read on to find out why your water heater might be low.

The burner assembly is the component in gas water heaters that ignites the natural gas flow. Over time, carbon particles can build up on the burner assembly as a natural combustion byproduct. This is harmless at first, but the more particles build up on the assembly, the more clogged it will become. Eventually, some or all of the jets that make up the assembly might fail to ignite. This prevents the water heater from heating the water.

Hard water is a threat to your entire plumbing system, including the water heater. Over time, homes with hard water issues can have sediment build up on the bottom of the water heater storage tank. This sediment buildup can get so bad that the water inside the tank will actually become insulated from the heat from the burner assembly. If you suspect that this might be the reason why your water heater output is low, call a professional and schedule a cleaning for your system. Removing the sediment in the tank should solve the problem, if that is indeed why the system’s output is low.

Many water heaters and furnaces in past decades operated using a pilot light. This was a standing gas flame that served to ignite the burner assembly when it was time for the system to start. If the pilot light failed, though, then the system had no way to start providing heat. Most modern systems use a different style of ignition system today, but they still rely on those systems to actually start providing heat. If your water heater doesn’t seem to be starting at all, it might be that whatever ignition device the system relies on is having some sort of issue.

Of course, it might just be that some sort of electrical problem is preventing your water heater from operating. If the system is otherwise healthy, but cannot receive orders from its thermostat, then it won’t know when to start heating water to make it available for you. It’ll take a professional evaluation to know for certain.

Lutz Plumbing, Inc. provides water heater repair services in Olathe, MO. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professional plumbers.