For over 50 years, their water heaters have been providing hot water to homes and businesses.

Water Heater Repair

For the home, kitchen and beyond, John Wood manufactures appliances that homeowners have come to trust. Even a trustworthy appliance requires occasional maintenance or repair, however. If you’re in need of John Wood  appliance repair from experienced professionals, your local Appliance Helper can help.

Water Temperature Issues 
One of the most common complaints of water heaters not working is the fact that we experience water temperature issues. This can be either water not heating up enough or the water being way too hot. In most cases, simply go to the water tank and adjust the thermostat on the tank. It may have been bumped by accident and caused the temperature to change. Turning down the water tank’s temperature is also a common practice to save energy during the summer months. Increase the thermostat temperature during the winter months will fix your temperature issue. If the water does not heat up when you turn up the temperature, you might be experiencing a faulty thermostat. The solution is to replace the thermostat. 
Other common issues we’ve found when it comes to water temperature fluctuations include: 
- A leak in the water tank 
- The gas control or burner assembly might be damaged. 
- Mineral deposits reducing the heater’s efficiency 
- A problem with the temperature-pressure relief valve. 

Water Heater Making Noises 
A noisy water heater doesn’t usually alarm many individuals; however, it can be annoying. There could be several things that cause a water heater to be noisy. As with the discolouring of the water, excessive buildup of minerals and sediment could be causing the noise that we hear. To avoid this from happening in the first place, you should flush your water heater out often, typically once a year. The buildup can happen due to the sediment being burned by the heating element or your heating element itself needs to be replaced. As it begins to deteriorate, it can slowly burn out and cause noises from within the unit. If it’s a boiling sound that you are hearing, this is the sound of the unit overheating, causing dangerous pressure buildup. In this case, call a professional immediately. 

Leaking Water Heater 
If you’ve noticed a drop in the water temperature, there might be a leak in your water heater. In order to repair the leak, it is important to determine the origin and the cause of the leak. 
Some of the main causes include: 
- Age 
- Bad plumbing installation 
- Poor maintenance 
- Loose drain valve 
- The pressure to the tank 
A leak can be very apparent as water pools near the unit and can also be dripping from the unit or pipes leading to it. In the case of loose valves, these are easily replaced on your own or tightened if it’s loose. If it’s a corroded water tank, then you’ll need to have it replaced. 

Damaged Gas Control or Burner Assembly 
Another common diagnostic for an unfunctional water heater is a damaged gas control or burner. A water heater cannot work properly if the burner is dirty or non-functional, hence causing the water to not heat up. The solution is to replace the damaged gas control or burner assembly – also known as a thermocouple. If you try relighting the pilot light and none of the other issues above seem to apply to the situation, then it may be as simple as replacing the thermocouple. To replace the thermocouple yourself, you first need to turn off the gas and the water to ensure that you won’t cause any further damage. If you have any doubt, call a professional to do the job right. 

Discoloration 
If the issue is water discoloration, then the problem is most likely being caused by high mineral levels such as iron and copper, causing the pipes to rust. A common solution to this is to install a water softener system in your house. While this is not dangerous to your overall health, it can lead to problems with the plumbing system that can affect the performance of appliances. Scale builds up in the system: deposits of ‘lime’ that can block the flow of water in pipes (as well as in shower heads and taps) and play havoc with the water heater, washing machine, and dishwasher. These issues are easily solved by installing a whole house water filter or even a water softener. 

Strong Water Odors 
There are various reasons as to what may be causing the strong water odours coming from the faucet. If you believe it’s the hot water tank, you can test this by running the hot water for a few minutes. If the water smells like rotten eggs or sewage-like scents, this can be a sign of bacteria growing inside the water tank. When this happens, your first course of action would be to flush the water tank thoroughly. If that doesn’t solve it, the anode rod might have been corroded and needs to be replaced. Another typical smell is garlic, which simply means the pilot light needs to relight. Finally, if the odour is exceptionally strong, it could be an issue with the gas line. When this happens, you need to turn off the unit, ventilate the area before vacating, and call both a plumber and the gas utility company.