You are not required to drain your water heater, and it is recommended that you don't - despite popular belief. When you drain the water heater, you are stirring up all the sediment that has collected at the bottom which then forces it out into your pipes, causing poor water pressure and clogged faucets.
There are two main causes for the lack of hot water, both of which would not require the replacement of the whole water heater unit. The first would be if you have an electric water heater, one of the heating elements may not be operating properly or the thermostat has malfunctioned and would need to be replaced. The other main reason would be that the dip tube has broken off inside the tank and is now allowing the incoming cold water to mix with the hot water instead of being forced to the bottom; this is true for both gas and electric water heaters.
There are several different temperatures you can set your water heater to, so you can set it to whatever you and your family are comfortable with. Most people are comfortable with their water heaters set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the new standard manufacturers’ pre-setting. If you have an older model, then more than likely yours is at the medium setting. On electric models, you have to adjust the thermostats (there may be two) which are located behind two panels on the side of the tank. NOTE: Be sure to turn off all electricity to the water heater before removing these panels, and you can adjust the setting to the desired temperature. If you have a gas water heater, there is a dial on the front of the gas valve which allows you to adjust it to the desired temperature.
The first thing you should check is your toilets, make sure they are not leaking. Then you can check to make sure your fill valve, inside the tank, is not overflowing through the overflow pipe. There is a small tube that should be connected to it; you want to make sure the water level is about 1 inch below the overflow tube or level with the manufacturer’s mark inside the tank. The last thing you can check is your flapper. You can do this by adding a couple of drops of some food coloring to your tank water. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes and check to see if the water in your bowl has changed color. If it has, then you will need to replace your flapper.
More than likely you will not need to replace the faucet. If it is dripping from the spout, then replacing the seats and springs or the ball valve could be all you need to do. If it is dripping from the supply lines underneath, a simple tightening of the fittings might solve the problem. However, if it is dripping from underneath the faucet itself, you may have to replace it. This can be discussed with your plumber.
If you have checked all of your water sources the next step would be to check your meter box and make sure there is no water leaking there. After that, you can check your water heater to make sure the overflow pan is not holding water. If it is, then either your tank or your relief valve is leaking and needs to be replaced. Then look over your yard and see if there are any dark green spots where the grass is richer and too moist. If you find a spot like that, you may have a leak on your main water line that would need to be repaired.
There could be a few reasons you hear whistling noises when your toilet is flushed. The most common is a small chip or hole in your tank cover that is allowing air to pass through at a high rate of speed, causing the whistle noise. It could also be caused by your fill valve, and a simple adjustment would stop the noise.
This typically is a normal sound when your water heater is re-filling after having used hot water. However, if you are hearing this when you do not have any water sources running, you may have a leak on one of your hot water lines and should call a plumber for further assistance.
A banging noise is usually caused by a worn-out or faulty hammer arrestor. These are installed on your automatic water lines, such as your ice maker line, your dishwasher line, or your washing machine line. A simple replacement of the hammer arrestor will stop the banging noise.
If you can hear water running inside your walls and there are no water sources turned on, then you may have a leak from one of the water pipes. You should call a plumber for further advice.
If you are having trouble with just one sink draining, then more than likely you have a stoppage in the immediate drain line. These can usually be removed by using a drain snake to clear the line. However, if it is further down the line, you might not be able to reach it with a regular drain snake, and you should call your plumber. If the water is draining slowly, then you might have what is referred to as a partial stoppage, which is allowing some water to pass through at a much slower speed. The first thing you should check is the pop-up to make sure there aren’t any obstructions like hair in the line. If there are no obstructions that you can see, you can try using a drain cleaner to remove the debris in the line.
If you are experiencing low water pressure where you once had good water pressure, there could be several possibilities. The first thing you should check is the supply line. Make sure it is turned all the way on. Another common reason is the aerators are clogged. Simply unscrew the aerator from the faucet head and clean out the sediment that may have collected by soaking it in vinegar overnight. Then using an old toothbrush, just brush out the buildup. If you are still experiencing low water pressure, you should call your plumber for further advice.
If you are experiencing loss of water throughout your home, the first thing you should check is the main water shutoff valve and make sure it is fully in the on position. The shutoff is typically located in your garage but can be different depending on where you live. If the main shutoff valve is completely turned on but you still don't have water, then check to make sure there are no breaks in your main water line. If there are, please call your plumber for further assistance. If you are experiencing no water flow at only one faucet, then first check to make sure the supply line is turned on. More than likely, you have one of two types of shutoff valves: a "twist turn" to open and close the valve or a "push-pull." If your supply lines are in the "on" position and you still don't have any water flow, then check to make sure there is no sediment buildup in the aerator. If there is, then removing the sediment should restore water flow. If you still do not have water flow, then you should call your plumber for further advice.
Foul odors sometimes occur from the buildup of food debris inside the unit. Try using a handful of ice cubes along with some lemon peels in the disposal and let it run for about 30 seconds. Then squirt just a little bit of liquid dish detergent into the disposal while it is still running. Then let the cold water run for another 30 seconds to wash away any remaining debris.
Your plumbing system is designed to block out these sewer odors by way of the P-traps that are attached to each fixture. These traps contain water, which seals out the smell; however, if the water evaporates, then the odors are allowed into the home. To solve this issue, take a bucket full of water and pour it into each of the drains where you are experiencing an odor. This should block out and prevent the odor. If it is a shower or sink that you do not use often, you may want to make this a part of your regular cleaning routine to prevent any future occurrences.
In 1994, a law was mandated by the federal government to regulate that the new toilets were to use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. The manufacturers then had to develop a toilet that would properly clear the bowl and carry the waste to the septic system or the city sewer. The first models that were introduced were cause for complaint, so the manufacturers have developed new flushing technology and enlarged internal passageways, resulting in a properly functioning toilet. There is also a toilet known as a power flush commode which uses a pressurized tank to produce a surge of water that enters and clears the bowl of any waste. Although they are not as quiet as conventional models, they work well and are like commercial toilets.
If you can hear or see the toilet bubbling when water is draining, then you may have a partial stoppage somewhere in the drain line. This could also mean your septic tank is full and would need to be drained by a septic company. However, if this is a common occurrence, then you might want to consider having a plumber run a sewer camera through your drain line to check for obstructions, a possible break in the line, or even root growth in your drain line.