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.

Intermittent Pilot Lights

A furnace with an intermittent pilot light relies on a small spark to ignite a flame. This miniature flame is called a pilot light. Once the flame is lit, a flame sensor is activated in the gas furnace. The flame sensor is engineered to detect and monitor the pilot light during the combustion process. If the sensor identifies a flame, it will open the gas valve to distribute natural gas to the pilot light and gas burners. Once the temperature of the interior air in your house is warm, the thermostat will distribute a signal to the control panel in the furnace to turn off the intermittent pilot light. The flame of an intermittent pilot light will remain off until the next heating cycle.

Hot Surface Ignitors

The hot surface ignitor in an energy-efficient gas furnace is a filament that is assembled with silicon nitride. The igniter is engineered to heat up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit or higher depending on the model of your furnace. Once the temperature in your house becomes cold, an electric panel in your furnace transmits a signal to the fan assembly and hot surface igniter.

Once the electric igniter is hot, the gas valve is activated to disburse natural gas to the gas burners. The incoming natural gas will be ignited by the hot surface ignitor before it reaches the burners. Next, the electric igniter will be deactivated when the sensor rod detects flames in the gas furnace. Some types of furnaces are equipped with an electric igniter that is engineered to detect flames.

This eliminates the need to have a separate flame sensor in the furnace. On the other hand, other types of furnaces feature a freestanding flame sensor that is separate from the hot surface igniter. If your furnace is distributing cold air in your house, this is a sign of a problem with the electric igniter. We offer furnace repair services in areas of Pennsylvania such as Drexel Hill, West Chester, Havertown, and Ardmore. Give our team of licensed technicians a call by phone at (484) 206-8594 to schedule an appointment. Our staff offers flexible financing solutions to ensure you are able to fix your furnace without emptying your bank account.

Standing Pilot Light

If you have a furnace that is 10 to 15 years old, it is assembled with a standing pilot light. A standing pilot light is a small flame that remains ignited continuously. Once the furnace is activated, a gas valve is opened to circulate natural gas to the pilot light. The incoming gas will be ignited by the miniature pilot light prior to reaching the gas burners. This type of gas furnace is less efficient because it relies on a flame that is constantly on.

Furnaces with a standing pilot light consume a large amount of fuel each year. In addition, a furnace with a pilot light is less efficient than a furnace with a hot surface ignitor or an intermittent pilot light. The average AFUE rating of an old furnace with a pilot light is 80 or lower.

The capacity of a sump pump is measured with a metric called horsepower. This metric is designed to measure the total amount of electricity that is produced by a sump pump to remove water from a sump put through discharge pipes. Depending on the total amount of rain you receive, you will need to choose a sump pump that is capable of removing water from your basement. Ordinary capacities of sump pumps are ½, ⅓, and ¾ horsepower. Prior to replacing an old sump pump, it’s important to check the sticker on your pump to confirm its horsepower rating, model, and manufacturer.

¾ Horsepower Sump Pumps

If you live in an area that receives a lot of rain, you may require a ¾ horsepower sump pump. This type of pump is useful on properties with high water tables. A ¾ horsepower sump pump provides a higher pumping capacity when compared to a ½ horsepower pump. This type of sump pump is useful in applications that have large horizontal runs.

½ Horsepower Sump Pumps

If you live in a standard size house with a large water table, you will require a ½ horsepower sump pump. A ½ horsepower sump pump is designed to pump a higher amount of water when compared to ⅓ horsepower sump pumps. This type of pump is utilized in houses with large vertical lifts. To receive help with the installation of a ½ horsepower sump pump, give our team of licensed plumbers a call by phone at (484) 206-8594. We offer plumbing repair services for pedestal and submersible sump pumps.

⅓ Horsepower Sump Pumps

A majority of households in the country will need a ⅓ horsepower sump pump. This type of pump is engineered for standard water tables. ⅓ horsepower sump pumps are designed to remove water from a standard size house. If your house is exceptionally large, you will need a sump pump with a higher capacity to prevent basement floods and mold growth.

Combustion fan motors are engineered to circulate cold air through the combustion chambers in a gas furnace. This type of motor is designed to increase the efficiency of warm air distribution in your house. This type of motor is designed to operate with 115 volts. In addition, a combustion fan motor is not equipped with a capacitor. Although this type of motor is designed with a long life cycle, it is not abnormal for it to burn out.

If you cannot activate the combustion fan motor in your furnace, this type of motor can be easily replaced. We offer furnace repair services to homeowners in areas of Pennsylvania such as Broomall, Havertown, and Drexel Hill. Give our team of plumbers a call by phone at (484) 206-8594 to receive help. Our team will purchase and install a new combustion motor that is compatible with the model of your furnace.

Cracks & Holes

Heat exchangers are assembled with metal that is designed to withstand corrosion and damage. On the other hand, cracks and holes can form in the heat exchanger of a furnace. If you notice a small to large crack on your heat exchanger, it’s important to replace the part to prevent a carbon monoxide leak. Cracks are easy to find and repair with the correct tools.

Chemical Corrosion

The heat exchanger relies on a variety of chemicals to exchange heat energy with incoming cold air. Each of the chemicals in the exchanger is capable of causing corrosion as the furnace reaches the middle or end of its life cycle. Deterioration can occur on the tube, in the shell, or on the sheet.

Rust

Energy-efficient furnaces with an AFUE rating of 90 or higher feature drainage pipes that are designed to remove moisture that is produced during the combustion cycle. If a blockage forms in the condensate pipes, the gas and moisture will be unable to escape. The excess moisture will cause condensation to form on the interior and exterior of the heat exchanger. This will cause rust to form on the inside and outside of the heat exchanger.