 Water heaters have a major share in total energy use of any house. Proper functioning of water heaters is necessary any faults in them can shoot up the energy usage and thus the electricity bills. Installing a water heater timer can prevent costly bills as it is an energy efficient tool. Studies say that the use of water heater timers can reduce the energy cost by 10-12%. Planning to install one in your house? Here is a step-by-step instruction guide how you can do it yourself.
Be very careful during the entire process. There are chances that you may get electrocuted. Get in touch with our professional hot water tank installers at Hot Water Tanks in Edmonton for any kind of water and tank services.
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Water heater thermocouple is a device that is installed in a water heater to monitor the temperature of water. The thermocouple decides whether you need to heat the water or turn the heat off. This water heater thermocouple consists of two types of metals that react differently to heat and expand at different temperatures. This technique signals the water heater when to turn on or off. It is an important safety device that exists inside your gas-fueled water heater that prevents both explosions and releasing uncombusted natural gas. If the water heater is not working properly or the water is not heating up, you must test the water heater’s thermocouple for any damage.  Let’s take a look at the steps for testing water heater thermocouple.
If you are still not sure about how to test a water heater thermocouple, take the assistance of professional plumbers in Edmonton. The water heater installed in your house could become a ticking time bomb if it not positioned and maintained properly. Even though the explosion of water heater is a rare occurrence, it could explode because of a faulty or damaged temperature and pressure relief valve. These valves are important as they offer protection from high pressure and temperature build ups.  Let’s take a look the five easy steps that show how you can replace a damaged or old water heater valve.
Turn Off the Water Heater The first step before you alter or replace any safety devices residing on the hot water heater is to turn it off. You must shut off hot water heater valve, and the temperature dial must be kept on its lowest setting. Let the water heater rest for about 3 hours so it can cool down. Or, you can run the water until it becomes lukewarm. After this, turn off the water supply to your hot water heater. Release Pressure The second step is opening a hot water faucet for releasing pressure on the lines. Start by positioning a 5-gallon bucket under the tank drainage valve. You must drain enough water so that the water from tank reaches a level below the relief valve. 5 to 10 gallons of water drainage proves to be sufficient when a temperature-pressure valve is located on the top of a 50-gallon tank. Examine the Discharge Line The third step is to examine the discharge line of the temperature-pressure valve. This discharge line should run in a downward direction from the valve and should reach to the bottom of the tank. You must remove this discharge line by splitting it through a cutter or by cutting it with a hacksaw at least 2 inches below the valve. After this, pull out the nut-shaped connector that is threaded into the temperature-pressure relief valve. This can be done using a pair of slip-joint pliers or a wrench. You can then keep aside the discharge line for reuse. Remove the Valve The fourth step includes removing the temperature-pressure relief valve from the hot water tank by turning it counterclockwise using a large pipe wrench. You must clean threads of the relief valve opening by making use of a wire brush. After this, you can wipe away the remaining debris using a rag. Apply a good adhesive sealant to the threads of the new relief valve. You must insert the temperature-pressure relief valve into the opening of the tank and thread it hand-tight. Fasten the valve using a pipe wrench by doing three to four full turns. After this, you must align the valve in such a manner that it’s opening point faces downward toward the base of the tank. Turn on the Water Supply The fifth and last step is turning on the water supply to the hot water heater. This allows the air trapped in the faucet to be released through the outlet. After this, close the faucet. You must remember to flip open the lever on the temperature-pressure relief valve for a few seconds to determine whether it is operating properly. The proper functioning of a temperature-pressure valve is critical for the safe and secure operation of a hot water heater. If you are still not sure about changing temperature-pressure valve correctly, seek help from our professional plumbers in Edmonton. Water heater element is the immersion element responsible for heating water. An electric water heater generally has two elements, lower and upper. Failure of either one can result in no hot water or less hot water. Water heater element can fail to function because of high usage, regular supply of hard water or old age. If you have already started facing the issue, here is how you can easily check your elements at home.  You will need non-contact voltage detector, screwdriver, multimeter and rubber gloves.
Process of Testing Water Heater Element:
Checking the elements at home is an easy task, but the next step either of replacing them, or any other hot water tank repair needs help of professional technicians in Edmonton. They can easily deal with all kinds of hot water tank services.  You do use hot water that comes out from a water heater, but you do not know how the water is heated. It is necessary to know how it works as it will help you fix some problems in the future. The working of an electric water heater may seem complex, but it is indeed simple. Here is what goes on inside an electric water heater while heating cold water:
Tank The tank is the most visible part of your electric water heater. It is that long cylinder which is usually a few feet high and around 20-25 inches in diameter. While the exterior part of the tank is metallic, the interior is made up of glass. This is because glass does not corrode with water. Between these two parts, there is a layer of insulation for efficiency purposes. Cold Inlet The water comes from the mainline into the unit through this supply line. It enters the unit from top. Dip TubeThe cold water from the supply line then passes through the dip tube. This tube delivers the cold water to the bottom of the unit. Heating Elements Electric water heaters use burners to heat water. Some water heaters may have one heating element, while some may have two: one to heat from the top and one to heat from the bottom. All the heating elements work together to heat the water efficiently. Thermostat The thermostat regulates the water temperature and turns the water heater on and off. If the water heater has two heating elements, it will also have two thermostats. Anode Rod Anode rod is also known as the sacrificial rod. The purpose of this tiny pole on the inside of the unit is to prevent corrosion. The pole is made from stainless steel and is coated with magnesium, zinc, or aluminium. Hot Water Outlet This is the supply line that carries the hot water out of the unit and delivers it to all the taps in your home. It is located at the top of the unit. These are the components of an electric water heater that should be in proper working condition to satisfy your hot water needs. When any of these components stop working, you cannot heat water. To know more about the working and maintenance of your electric water heater, you should get in touch with the professional technicians as they have the proper knowledge about the different types of hot water tanks in Edmonton.  One of the most common problems that might be causing your water heater’s pilot light to go off is a spoiled thermocouple. You can solve this problem by just replacing the thermocouple. It is not as much a difficult task as you might think it would be. You do not have to wait for professional plumbers in Edmonton to do it for you because you will easily be able to do it on your own if you have the necessary tools to do it. Tools Required for Replacing The ThermocoupleBefore you start with the thermocouple replacement task, you will have to make sure that you have all the necessary tools handy. If you have all the tools at hand, you will be able to avoid last minute shopping trips. This will help reduce the time of completion of the work and also make it easier for you. Here is a list of things you need to have in order to replace water heater’s thermocouple:
Thermocouple Replacement ProcedureFollowing are the steps to replace water heater’s thermocouple:
Turn Off The Gas Supply Before you start any type of electrical work, you need to make sure that the gas supply or the power supply to that appliance is put off. This will let you work under safe conditions and prevent major accidents. Remove The Nuts When you have turned the gas supply to the water heater off, you will have to unfasten the three nuts that hold the thermocouple and the two gas tubes to the valve. Once you have done this, the burner that just sits loosely will easily be able to slide out. Detach The Thermocouple In most of the hot water tanks, the thermocouple is attached to the pilot gas supply tube with the help of one or two clips that snap into place. The end of the thermocouple will be inserted into the pilot assembly. You will just have to pull it out. This spoiled thermocouple is of no use to you anymore. Install a New Thermocouple You have to install the new thermocouple in place of the old one. You will have to attach the end of the new thermocouple into the pilot assembly and reattach the thermocouple to the pilot gas supply with the help of the clips that you removed previously. Then you can reinstall the burner with the help of an adjustable wrench, reconnect the thermocouple lead, the pilot gas tube to the valve, and the gas tube to the main burner. Turn The Gas Back On Once you have put everything back in its place, you can turn the gas supply back on. When the gas supply is on, follow the lighting instructions on the water heater. Following these steps will help you to replace water heater’s thermocouple easily and appropriately. If you have never done any such work in the past, you should not attempt to do this and call professional plumbers in Edmonton instead. This way, you will have to bear a little expense but at least you will be saved from major accidents. |
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