Depending on the amount of people living in your home, you may decide to invest in a hot water heater with a 40, 50, or 60 gallon water tank. Regardless of the size, all traditional water heaters feature the same parts and operate in a similar manner. The two main types of heaters to choose from are gas and electric hot water heaters. If you’re having issues with your water heater, it’s important to be familiar with how it operates to confirm if you’re able to fix it on your own. Depending on the severity of the issue, you may need to call a local plumber to perform a water heater repair.

Gas Water Heaters

A gas water heater features a small thermostat with a sensor that is designed to monitor the interior temperature of the hot water tank. If the temperature in the tank is too low, the thermostat will distribute an electrical current to the gas control valve. Once the thermocouple detects the flame of the pilot light, the gas valve is activated. The thermocouple in a gas water heater is engineered to monitor the pilot light. If the thermocouple is not able to detect a flame, the heating cycle will be canceled to prevent a gas leak in your home.

Once the gas valve is activated, natural gas is circulated to the burner that is located at the base of the water tank. The gas will create a reaction and ignite a flame that is used to increase the temperature of the water in the tank. The warm water at the base of the water tank will rise as a new supply of cold water enters the tank from the dip tube. Excess gas that is produced throughout the heating process is safely distributed from your house in a pipe. When the interior water reaches the programmed temperature on the thermostat, a signal is sent to close the gas control valve.

Electric Water Heaters

The cold water in your house is distributed to the bottom of the water tank through a dip tube. Next, one or two electric heating elements is activated to increase the temperature of the water. Once the water in the tank has reached the temperature on the thermostat, an electrical signal is sent to a switch to deactivate the heating elements. The thermostat on an electric water heater is connected to the side of the water tank.

Each of the heating elements in a water heater is immersed in cold water. The electricity in each element is utilized to produce heat energy and a supply of warm water. An electric water is equipped with two heating elements that are located at the top and bottom of the hot water tank. On the other hand, there are electric water heaters available that feature only one element.

A water heater with two heating elements only relies on a single element at a time to heat the water. If your water heater is not producing hot water, give our team of local plumbers a call by phone at (484) 206-8594 to receive assistance. We offer dependable and safe water heater and plumbing repair services in areas of Pennsylvania such as Conshohocken, Coatesville, Broomall, and West Chester.

To prevent damage to the furniture and hardware in your household, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms of a broken water or sewer line. To help you respond to a crack in the pipes behind your walls, we have compiled a list of the most common signs of damaged water pipes.

Drywall Damage

Small leaks in underground pipes may cause the dirt beneath your foundation to become damp and unstable. Once the ground becomes too wet, the dirt will have trouble supporting the weight of your house. This will cause the foundation to move on your property. Unfortunately, issues with the foundation of a household can cause the formation of cracks in walls or flooring. If you notice horizontal or vertical cracks in your walls, immediately call a local plumber in your area.

Odors

Mold and mildew will form behind your walls and ceiling within 2 days if a water leak is not detected. An ordinary symptom of mold includes unpleasant odors in hot and humid areas of a home. It only takes a total of 3 – 7 days for mold spores to develop. To avoid health consequences, call a licensed plumber near you to receive help with a water line or plumbing repair. The plumber will locate the crack in your water pipe and remove the line from your wall. A new water pipe will be installed to prevent the formation of mold and fungi in the future.

Wet Floors

There is a network of water and sewer pipes beneath the flooring and foundation of your household. Once a pipe reaches the end of its life cycle, a crack or hole may form. It only takes a small leak to cause the price of your water bill to increase. To determine if the water on your floor is due to a water or sewer pipe leak, it’s important to inspect the color of the water.

If the water is a brown or dark color, the moisture on your floor is likely from a broken sewer pipe beneath the foundation of your house. On the other hand, a puddle of clear water may be caused by a cracked or collapsed water pipe on your property. The only way to receive a diagnosis for this issue is to hire a local plumber to perform an inspection. We offer dependable water line and plumbing repair services in areas of Pennsylvania such as Ardmore, Berwin, West Chester, Drexel Hill, Malvern, and Broomall. Give our team of plumbers a call by phone at (484) 206-8594 to receive help with a broken water pipe.

Noises

Noises that resemble running water in your home may be caused by a sink you accidentally left on. On the other hand, this type of sound may be produced by a damaged valve or sprinkler in your backyard. If each of the sinks are off and there is no running water in your yard, the noise may be due to a cracked water or sewer pipe. Before you pick up your phone to call a local plumber, inspect your water meter.

Once you obtain a reading from the water meter, keep your water off for a few hours. Do not use the sink, dishwasher, or shower in your household. Once the water has been off for a few hours, check the water meter again. If the reading on the water meter has changed, this is an indicator of a damaged water or sewer pipe. Give our staff a call by phone at (484) 206-8594 to receive help with a water pipe replacement. We offer water line and plumbing repair services in Broomall and other areas of Pennsylvania.

The life cycle of the water or sewer lines on your property will vary depending on the material used. The most common types of pipes used in households include copper, lead, galvanized steel, PVC, brass, and cast iron. To help you plan for future water leaks, we have created a list of ordinary types of pipes on residential properties.

Brass Pipes

If the pipes behind your walls are yellow, your house was built with brass pipes. This type of pipe features a life cycle that ranges from 50 to 70 years. Brass pipes are not ordinarily used on residential properties.

PEX Pipes

PEX pipes are assembled with durable plastic and feature a life cycle of 40 years or higher. The life cycle of this type of pipe will vary depending on your water usage patterns and the type of water in your area. If the pipes behind your walls are blue or yellow, your house was constructed with PEX pipes. The blue pipes are utilized to circulate cold water while the red pipes are used to distribute hot water.

PVC Pipes

PVC pipes are commonly used in new homes and neighborhoods for water and waste distribution. This type of plastic piping became popular in the 1990’s and features a life cycle of 75 years. On the other hand, PVC pipes that are used to distribute waste feature an infinite life cycle. Our team of plumbers offers trustworthy water line and plumbing services in Berwin, Wayne, Havertown, West Chester, and Broomall. Give our staff a call by phone at (484) 206-8594 to receive support with a pipe installation.

Copper Pipes

Houses that were built in the 1950’s feature copper pipes. This type of piping is utilized to circulate clean water to fixtures and appliances. If the pipes beneath your flooring or walls are a combination of brown and red, your household was built with copper pipes. As these pipes become older, they will start to turn green due to the process of oxidation. Copper pipes feature a life cycle of 50 years or longer.

Lead Pipes

Lead pipes are no longer used in homes and should be replaced immediately. This type of piping was discontinued in the early 1900’s due to prevent lead poisoning and other health consequences.