Many people have probably experienced getting burned by the water from the shower or while washing their hands in the sink. If the faucets and showers in your home give off water that’s hotter than usual, you’re probably dealing with an overheating water heater. Leaving an overheating water heater unchecked is potentially dangerous. Typically, the hot water tank has a cap that limits how hot the water can get. When this cap is no longer effective, the water can get too hot for use, posing the risk of scalding people in your household.
In this article, you’ll know why water heaters overheat and know what you can do to overcome this problem.
To better understand why water heaters tend to overheat, you must first take a look at how they work. Electric water heaters have a burner that heats the water inside the tank. This burner is located at the center, inside the water heater. The burner will heat the water until it reaches the temperature set on the thermostat. The burner is supposed to shut down when the water temperature reaches the set temperature. When the burner is shut off, the water will just be left to cool (if unused) until the water heater is activated again.
Meanwhile, for gas heaters to work, they will need three things: combustion, airflow, and the tank. Gas water heaters transfer heat to the water by burning natural or liquid propane gas. Typically, the burner inside the combustion chamber will ignite the gas. Airflow is then required to blow carbon dioxide fumes away from home.
Different types of water heaters overheat due to various reasons. Let us take a look at the most common causes.
Electric Water Heaters
Gas Water Heater
Malfunctioning Thermostats
When your water heater starts giving you unusually hot water and you’re not comfortable checking the water heater yourself, do not hesitate to seek the assistance of a trusted professional plumber in your area.
Fast Az Services is one of the most reputable home repair services in Alabama. Contact ustoday for any inquiries.