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Do you wanna know about the Common Geyser Problems & Solutions? Let us read this article further to know some of the hacks and tricks.
An instant water heater or geyser is a very important part of the Indian household lifestyle. There are two types of geysers, gas water heaters, and electrical geysers.
The most featured quality of water geysers is that they give hot water instantly whenever it is required. Be it for bathing or daily household chores, geysers are a daily necessity during winters.
Although geysers do not require routine geyser service, sometimes the occurrence of technical issues needs to be resolved immediately to continue availing a variety of benefits from the appliance.
A water heater or a geyser, as it is more commonly known in India, needs as much care (if not more) as any other electronic device.
Though manufacturers provide the best parts that can deal with the constant heating and cooling, you have to remember that even the best parts will wear down if put under continuous pressure.
In this post, we will look at some tips for water heater maintenance and installation to prolong its life despite the regular expansion and contraction from heating and cooling.
Points to keep in Mind while Installing a water Heater or Geyser
Space around the geyser
When you are installing a water heater, remember to keep some space between the apparatus and the walls.
If the technician does not have enough wriggle room to check out the water heater parts, they will not be able to service it or repair it properly. Hire expert technicians from UrbanClap to get the installation properly.
Also, it should be easily accessible if you want to repair it or get it serviced. Though some people put the geyser right on top of the toilet to supposedly get better access, this hinders the technician from reaching the apparatus easily.
It is much better to put it on a portion of the wall that has nothing below the geyser and is away from damp areas like the shower, bathtub, or toilet. This way, you or anyone can easily access it with a small stool.
Put the water heater at a sufficient height
Experts suggest that you should install the geyser at a height of at least 1.8 meters or 6 feet from the floor. This ensures that the water pressure is sufficient and you get a strong hot water flow in your tap rather than a trickle.
Electrical connections and switches
Ensure that the geyser is connected to a Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) that cuts off electricity in case of power fluctuations.
This will minimize the chances of any short circuit in the water heater. Also, keep the switch at a sufficient height away from small children but not too high that you or any adult has problems while trying to reach it.
Now that we know what precautions to take when installing a water heater, let’s look at some maintenance tips that can help keep the appliance.
Regular maintenance tips for your water heater – Common Geyser Problems & Solutions
Do not keep the geyser switched on for extended periods
People usually prefer to keep the geyser switched on for extended periods, especially during the morning. The general notion is that since everyone needs warm water before they rush for work or school, keeping the geyser on will save time.
That may have been the case once upon a time but today’s geysers heat the water within 5 minutes. As keeping the geyser on for extended periods will reduce the life of the apparatus, it makes better sense to put it on only 5 minutes before you need it and not half an hour before.
Regular water heater maintenance can help in extending the life of your heater. You can also get your water heater repaired by UrbanClap service experts.
Save more electricity by lowering the temperature
Water heater maintenance is important as you will save electricity as well! If you use a lower temperature setting the water will reach that temperature faster.
The reduced temperature means the geyser will have to work less and this will increase its life. Moreover, having warm water rather than very hot water in the tap will reduce the chances of any accidental burns.
Lowering the thermostat is especially important for families with small children. Water heater maintenance is hence very crucial to ensure you never run out of hot water during winters.
Check the anode rod inside the tank before winter
Larger geysers have an anti-corrosion anode rod inside the tank. This rod attracts rust and other impurities present in the water, thereby preventing the tank from getting rusted or corroded. However, because of this, it corrodes away every few years.
Experts suggest that you check the anode rod every 3 years to see if the outer layer of magnesium has corroded away and 6 inches or more of the inner steel core is visible. If that is the case, then the rod needs to be replaced.
The rod also has to be replaced if it is coated with whitish calcium sediments (happens when the water is hard) or its thickness has reduced considerably to below half an inch.
Check the pressure release valve
Check at least once a year if the temperature and pressure release valves are working. You can check this by releasing the pressure a couple of times.
It is a major issue if the relief valve at the water heater is leaking. You just need to drain some water out of your water geyser and remove the discharge tube. Thereafter replace the valve and it’s done!
Keep an eye on the plug
Power fluctuations and using low capacity wiring for the power socket means your switch will make a spark now and then. You will also notice burn marks on your plug’s pins as the higher electricity wattage will heat the plug and the pins and leave burnt traces.
To prevent any future electrical short circuit from this, it is always better to use plugs and sockets that are new and have been properly wired and plugged in.
Also, try to use an MCB switch instead of a regular one as MCBs are better constructed than standard plugs and will prevent any short-circuit from happening.
The third thing you can do is to switch on the geyser only when you need it and switch it off immediately after you are done.
Replace the plastic inlet and outlet pipes with metal ones
It is always better to use metal inlet and outlet pipes since they are more resistant to heat than the standard plastic ones you get with a geyser.
Also, remember to check the joints regularly. In case you see whitish deposits from hard water or rust around the joints, then it is time to replace the inlet or outlet pipe.
Get annual maintenance done
Last but not least: If you have no experience in doing maintenance work on a geyser, and want to avoid water heater problems, then it is better to book an expert from UrbanClap to do the job rather than trying to wing it yourselves. They will help with cleaning your water heater as well.
Leakages through ceilings- Often water leakages through the ceiling causes damage to the water geyser. The most common cause is a burst heater or leakages developed on the body top.
The most relevant solution for this issue is to switch off the power supply to the geyser and call a professional Ceiling leakage
Colored running water- This is a problem in which the water that runs through the geyser turns rusty or becomes colored. This is caused by corrosion on the anode rod or the storage tank. The easiest solution is to flush out the corrosion from any of the parts.
Geyser Colored and Rusty water
Foul Odor- Odor is a most common problem which often is not identified in its early stage. This is caused by the usage of well water that automatically gives foul smell and decaying anode rode which with a colored flow of water also releases hydrogen which in turn generates the bad odor. The modern solution to this issue is to either increase the thermostat temperature to high or to flush the corrosion on a routine basis.
Geyser water service
Strange Noises- The most common reason for this problem is the heating panel inside that makes noises because of very high pressures. Hence it makes strange noises like banging, popping, or even rumbling. To get rid of this the most feasible solution is to drain the storage tank, descale the build-up, and even after this if the descaling doesn’t help replace it.
Geyser services near you
Overheating- Th problem of geyser overheating creates a dis-balance in the functionality of the entire machine. This is caused due to high temperatures in the thermostat and thus requires balancing or replacing.
Temperature valves in gas geysers
Low hot water pressure- This problem occurs when the water supply is very low in turn gives low pressure inside the heater. This is caused due to old geyser pipes and galvanized pipelines in the house. This can only be resolved by replacing the old ones with new pipes with broader diameters that match the geyser input sockets.
Gas and Electric geyser pipes
Regular maintenance can help prevent these issues and thus increase the life span of any geyser for almost 1 to 2 years without services. Even though these problems and their solutions are very easy to practice, always call out for professionals with proper training and experience in doing so.
