How To Know When It’s Time For A New Water Heater Installation

Posted by Bird Dog Plumbing LLC on Sep 12, 2016 in Plumber Longview TX, Water Heater Installer Longview TX, Water Heater Repair Longview TX | 0 comments At Bird Dog Plumbing in Longview, TX, we know a thing or two about water heaters and water heater installation.  We know that most water heaters work so well for so long that it’s easy to take them for granted – until they stop working.  When your home’s water heater malfunctions, it can impact and interrupt many of the activities you do in your home on a daily basis, like doing laundry, washing dishes and bathing.  So, what are some of the clues you should look for that might mean your water heater is about to disappoint you? You Have No Hot Water At All If you’re not getting any hot water out of any tap, check your circuit breakers or fuses first to see if one is tripped or blown.  After that, check the reset button on your water heater limit switch, which will shut your water heater off if there’s a problem.  If you replace a fuse, reset your circuit breaker or limit switch and everything seems to go back to working the way it should – the water is hot and the fuses and breakers don’t blow or trip again – then your system should be all right but if any of the problems recur, it’s time to call us at Bird Dog Plumbing. The Water Is Too Hot This is a serious issue because water that is too hot coming out of the faucet can scald or burn.  It can be caused by a thermostat that may not be working properly or was set too high when the water heater was installed.  Call for professional help immediately. You Don’t Have As Much Hot Water As You Expect Once again, your water heater’s thermostat may be the problem when you notice that the water turns cold halfway through a shower or when you seem to have to wait forever to get hot water for washing dishes after someone has taken a shower.  The thermostat may need to be adjusted to a higher setting.  One or both of your heating elements could be bad or there could be loose wiring to one of them. Your Water Looks Rusty Or Smells Funny Two things inside your water heater can cause your water to look rusty or even black; one is a buildup of scale on the heating elements and another is a disintegrating anode rod.  The purpose of...
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Water heater Repair Longview TX Offers Tankless Replacements

Posted by Longview TX Plumber on Oct 22, 2015 in Water Heater Repair Longview TX | 0 comments From replacing loose roofing shingles to a water heater repair in Longview TX, there are an overwhelming number of tasks necessary to clean and maintain your home. These tasks are essential for your home’s appeal, function, and value, but you may not be placing enough emphasis on your plumbing. Considering the average lifespan of a traditional water heater is about 10 years, you may need a complete replacement. Fortunately, replacing with a tankless model offers numerous benefits. Energy Efficiency A standard model water heater uses energy continuously, whether you are using hot water or not, but a tankless model only uses energy when it is necessary. This reduces your home’s total energy usage, benefiting the environment and reducing your monthly energy bills. In homes with 4 or more people, tankless water heaters can save an estimated $95 per year. This may not seem like a large savings, but it can really add up over time. Hot Water Washing dishes, doing laundry, bathing, and showering all require a supply of hot water. Unfortunately, homes with traditional water heaters will most likely run out of this hot water. While common, the lack of hot water can be a problem in homes with larger families. To reduce this problem, water heater repair in Longview TX can replace a standard model with a tankless unit, increasing your supply of hot water. This benefit may seem surprising considering the reduction in energy, but tankless water heaters ensure you and your family never run out of hot water. Smaller Size Standard water heaters are large, bulky appliances that may take up a portion of a closet or garage. A new tankless water heater is smaller and thinner. Contractors can mount your tankless model to a small section of a wall, increasing your storage space. Lifespan As a homeowner, you do not want to continue investing money in water heaters. Thankfully, a tankless water heater has a longer lifespan compared to the standard models. In most cases, tankless units will last twice as long as a standard unit. Home Value Millions of homeowners will need to sell their homes for varying reasons. Since the majority of potential buyers prefer homes with eco-friendly, energy-efficient upgrades, a tankless water heater will be an appealing option to these buyers. The cost of a tankless model may seem expensive, but it will add tremendous value to your home. Due to...
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Water Heater Repair In Longview, TX: What Water Heater Leaks Mean

Posted by Longview TX Plumber on Oct 16, 2015 in Water Heater Repair Longview TX | 0 comments If you’ve noticed a water leak near your water heater, it may be time to call a plumber who handles water heater repair in Longview, TX for help.  Though a water heater, gas or electric, is a fairly straightforward piece of equipment, figuring out where a leak is coming from can get complicated and fixing any leak can be dangerous because of the combination of electricity and hot water in your unit.  Before you call a plumber, take a look at your water heater and try to determine where the water is coming from so you can give him or her accurate information that will help them to decide how urgent your problem is. Water Leaking From Pipes Pipes that have corroded or that have had some kind of damage to a connector or fitting can leak water in either a slow drip or in a spray.  A spray of water, especially if your water heater is located inside your home, is more urgent than a slow leak and will require your plumber to come as quickly as possible. Water Oozing From Gaskets Gaskets around your heating elements can corrode over time, break or pinch and cause a slow but fairly steady leak down the side of your water heater.  Heating elements are concealed by a cover plate so if you suspect the gaskets around the heating elements are leaking, to be sure you’ll have to unplug your heater and remove the cover plate.  Push aside the insulation and feel around the elements or dab around them with a dry paper towel to look for oozing water. Water Condensing Under The Pressure-Relief Valve If the temperature in your water heater is set too high, steam and the pressure that comes with it will build up inside the tank.  The pressure-relief valve is designed to release the steam and take the pressure off.  Once the steam releases, it condenses and drips off the valve, which is located either on the side or top of the heater.  Though there won’t be much water from this pressure release, you will need an expert in water heater repair in Longview, TX to figure out the reason there is pressure buildup inside the tank. Water Condensing Around The Base Of The Tank During times of heavy hot water use, you could have more cold water than heated water in your water heater tank.  When this...
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No Weekend Up-Charge for Water Heater Repair in Longview, TX

Posted by Longview TX Plumber on Oct 13, 2015 in Water Heater Repair Longview TX | 0 comments When your water heater breaks on the weekend, you’ll need water heater repair in Longview, TX as soon as possible. However, only Bird Dog Plumbing at 903-225-2272 offers repairs with no up-charge for the weekend. This means that you’ll pay the same price that you would if your water heater decided to break during normal business hours. We understand that plumbing fixtures don’t respect the normal 9 to 5 workday, so we won’t penalize you with additional charges should you need water heater repair in Longview, TX on the weekend. So, if your shower and faucets aren’t providing hot water, call us right away. What a comfort it is to know that your water heater repair in Longview, TX is only a phone call away. Call Bird Dog Plumbing at 903-225-2272 now. Water Heater Repair Longview TXBird Dog Plumbing LLC2206 Balsam StLongview, Texas...
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Water Heater Repair in Longview, TX: Most Common Problems

Posted by Longview TX Plumber on Oct 7, 2015 in Water Heater Repair Longview TX | 0 comments Are you in need of water heater repair in Longview, TX? You never know when disaster will strike and you may have found yourself in a situation where you need to call a plumber. He or she will probably ask you several questions regarding the kind of issues you are having with your water heater, so it is always good to have some general knowledge regarding common problems that can occur. This will help expedite the repair process, as your plumber will arrive more informed and be able to address the issue you’re having quickly. Here are a few of the most common water heater problems that you should be familiar with. No Hot Water This is the worst! No hot water is usually a problem with your thermostat, the electric heating element, or your pilot light. While you can probably relight your pilot light, the other two issues may require the assistance of a plumber if you are not familiar with plumbing yourself. Limited Hot Water This situation really is not much better than no hot water. After all, half a cold shower is still a cold shower. Again, this issue typically has something to do with the water heater’s thermostat. It could also be due to a clog somewhere in the system. To be sure, it is probably safest to call a plumber for assistance. Discolored Water Water coming out of faucets a different color than normal (typically, water should be clear) is a pretty good indicator that something is wrong. If your water has a rusty tint to it, then it is likely the result of an anode beginning to dissolve somewhere within the water heater system. This is something you will need a professional to inspect, unless you have extensive experience with water heater repair in Longview, TX. Leaking A water heater leak can be pretty alarming when you first notice it. The cause can have something to do with the temperature and pressure valve, but there could also be corrosion within your unit as well. You will want to call a plumber for this fix. You will also want to clean up any water around your unit. Make sure to note where the leak is coming from so that you can inform you plumber when he or she arrives. If you need you water heater repair in Longview, TX, contact Bird Dog Plumbing for assistance. We offer a number of quality...
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