Poor water flow from the water heater. Boiler leaking what to do

During operation storage water heaters various malfunctions, breakdowns can occur, which either interfere with the normal operation of the equipment, or make it completely impossible.

You can solve the problem yourself. Consider the most common malfunctions of water heaters.

Water supply problems

Few hot water. If there is not enough hot water, it is possible that the inlet and outlet pipes were connected incorrectly during installation. This situation occurs only at the very beginning of operation. If this problem occurs in the future, then most likely the reason is in the features of the work. electrical appliance. With a large one-time consumption of hot water, the newly collected liquid will heat up only after an hour or two. Therefore, when buying storage water heaters, you should pay attention to.

Water is leaking from the water heater. If the tank began to leak at the very beginning of operation, then it should be changed. If it has already passed more long term, then the cause may be: natural wear and tear, which should include the effects of corrosion, improper or rare cleaning of the tank, improper operation of the equipment. In this case, the failure of the device is unrecoverable. And the only way out is to buy a new water heater.

The reason for the leakage of storage water heaters can also be a worn flange. To check this, you need to remove the plastic cover, which is located at the bottom of the tank body. If it leaks from under the flange gasket, then the reason is its deterioration, or the flange itself. In this case, it can be replaced. However, such situations are rare, more often the reason lies in the tank itself.

Weak hot water pressure. Some users complain about the weak pressure of hot water. AT this case the malfunction is not in the water heater itself, but in the clogging of the water supply passages. It can be pollution in the inlet and outlet pipes of water, low pressure in the water supply itself. You should also check the filter at the inlet to the boiler, the meshes on the mixers, which are often clogged with scale.

Troubleshooting must begin with checking the pressure at the inlet to the equipment, then check the pressure in the system. And if everything is fine, you should check the condition of the water supply.

Feed pipe heating cold water. The reason for the heating of the pipe through which cold water is supplied can be a check valve. This element is necessary to prevent the reverse flow of water entering the boiler. If the valve is malfunctioning, then hot water starts to flow back. In this case, you need to replace check valve.

Such a household appliance as a water heater is very popular. Convenient and undemanding in maintenance, it has found its application both in private houses and in apartments. However, not everything is as smooth as it might seem, and sometimes the owners are faced with incorrect operation of the equipment. The reasons for the fact that, for example, hot water does not come out of the boiler when the tap is opened, may be different. In the event of a problem, do not panic and change the device to a new one, in most cases, breakdowns can be repaired.

The inlet part of the water heater passes through itself large volumes of water. To protect the internal parts of the device from foreign elements and water debris, the design provides for the installation coarse filter. Due to the nature of its operation, the filter is subject to periodic contamination. rusty pipes, dirty water form dense formations on the mesh lining that interfere with the flow of fluid.

The malfunction is eliminated after thorough cleaning under running water. For this you need:

• unscrew the cap of the flask using a special key;
• remove the mesh gasket and eliminate contamination;

If the blockage is too dense, you can use dishwashing detergents. Do not leave the mesh soaked in a solution with a product, just apply it to a sponge and wipe the part. After that, you need to install the filter in place, repeating all the steps in reverse order.

To prevent clogging in the future, experts recommend purchasing an additional filter.

Coarse filter

Scale and deposits

Commonly used in water heaters heating element open type . One of its features is the need for regular cleaning. It must be carried out at least once a year, otherwise salt formations can block the hole intended for the flow of fluid from the pipeline. In addition, excessive scale formation can generally disable the heating element. In order for the flow of hot water from the water heater to go well, do the following:

• dismantle the protective cover;
• carefully disconnect the wiring connected to the heating element;
• remove the heating element and carefully descale it by placing it in a solution citric acid;
• thoroughly wash the inner walls of the storage tank;
• check the integrity of the magnesium anode, if necessary, replace it with a new one.

Faucet contamination

Liquid will flow in a trickle if mixer spout congestion has occurred. The pressure will be equally bad for both cold and hot water. To fix the problem, you need to carry out a number of procedures.

1. Close the riser to turn off the water.
2. Remove the mixer carefully.
3. Unscrew the spout from the common body.
4. Remove the mesh and rinse it under running water. In case of formation of salt deposits or dense dirt, let it soak in a special cleaning solution.
5. Rinse the mixer spout thoroughly and clean the insides of dirt with a brush.
6. Reassemble the faucet in reverse order and reinstall it. Don't forget to open the riser.

This procedure may take some time, as an alternative, you can simply replace the clogged mixer with a new one. Experts recommend replacing worn parts every few years to avoid serious breakdowns in the future.

A filter system installed on the pipes connecting the system to the water heater will help to avoid further contamination.

Other reasons

Below we describe less common malfunctions in which no water comes out of the water heater. desired temperature.

As you can see, most problems can be successfully repaired at home. However, it is better to call a specialist who can provide professional assistance.

Water heaters are used as the main or additional source of hot water in apartments and country houses. A complex device may fail due to different reasons, breakdowns cause a lot of domestic inconvenience and require urgent elimination. Let us consider in more detail why cold water does not enter the water heater, for what reason the pressure may decrease, and why there are difficulties with heating.

water heater

Why is the water heater not working?

First of all, you need to deal with the cause of the problem. Most often, owners of water heating equipment are faced with the following malfunctions:

• The water pressure at the outlet of the water heating equipment decreases.
• The boiler draws water and heats it, but there is no water at the outlet.
• Water does not enter the tank of the water heater.

The boiler is complex system, consisting of many pipes of various diameters, filters, valves and gates. Failure of any node can lead to malfunction of the entire system.

Boiler design

Here are the main causes of failures:

• Deposition on the walls of pipes, parts of valves or valves of insoluble carbonate salts (scale).
• The ingress of rust particles.
• Blocking the flow of water with an air bubble.
• Valve or valve failure (jamming of parts).

First of all, you need to find the problem node. To do this, sequentially disconnect the parts from the inlet and see after which node the water will stop flowing into the system. When the problem area is found, you can begin to repair.

Important! Any actions associated with opening the body of the water heater lead to the loss of the right to warranty service. Start work only if the warranty has expired. Otherwise, it is advisable not to violate the warranty rules, but to contact the service center.

Trouble-shooting

Having found a problem node, you need to start restoring the boiler's performance. The procedure depends on the specific reason that prevents the device from working normally. Let's consider the most common situations.

Scale clogging

Clogged water heater

Scale is deposits of insoluble carbonate salts on the walls of appliances for heating water. She is found in teapots washing machines, water heaters.

The amount of scale depends on the hardness of the water. In regions with hard water, even for a year of operation of the boiler, the amount of salts deposited on the walls may be enough to completely block the lumen of the tubes heating element or significantly narrow it down.

If the scale has caused the failure of the water heater, it is necessary to carry out repairs in the following order:

• Open and remove the protective cover from the water heater.
• Unscrew the nuts holding the heating element in place and remove it.

Dismantling the heating element

• Wash the boiler walls and the heating element coil from carbonate deposits. Organic acid - lemon or oxalic - will help dissolve the hard crust. You can also use industrial products - antiscale. Soak the part in an acidic solution to free it from accumulated deposits.

Cleaning the heating element from scale

• Using a tester, make sure that the heating element coil has not burned out due to a violation of heat removal by scale.
• If the spiral is intact, assemble the device in the reverse order of dismantling.

If the heating element is out of order, you will have to look for a new one or buy a new boiler - you need to choose the most economical solution. If repairs require major financial costs, it is more profitable to immediately purchase a new technique.

Failure of the pressure reducer

The pressure drops of the incoming water in the system can be from 2.5 to 7 atm. To compensate for surges at the inlet to the boiler, a special unit is installed - a gearbox. Its task is to ensure equal pressure at the outlet of the boiler and from the tap. If it fell due to the failure of the gearbox, it is necessary to adjust its operation or replace the broken part.

Low pressure in the main water supply also leads to a drop in pressure at the outlet of the water heating boiler or in instantaneous water heater. Unscrew the hose and check the pressure level: if water comes from the main water supply in a thin stream or does not flow at all, it is worth waiting, as the problem may arise due to repair work. If the pressure has not recovered within a few hours, you should contact the Vodokanal.

Thermostat failure

If the water leaving the boiler does not heat up enough or does not heat up at all, the cause may be the failure of the thermostat - it is he who is responsible for maintaining a constantly high temperature. To diagnose, turn off the power to the boiler and remove the thermostat from the housing.

• Press the thermostat button.
• Heat up the copper tip of the thermostat. If the node is healthy, the button should be disabled.
• call electrical circuits thermostat with a tester.

Typically, a thermostat malfunction is caused by an overheat protection trip. As a result of the operations performed, the device should start working, and the problems will disappear after it is installed in place. If the tester shows an open circuit, you will have to replace the burned-out thermostat.

Clogged mixer

If water comes out of the boiler with sufficient pressure, and it runs slowly from the tap, the reason lies in the clogging of the mixer with scale or rust. You will need to turn off the water, disassemble the mixers and thoroughly clean the filter mesh. You also need to inspect all sealing gum and make sure that the crane boxes are working properly.

If water does not enter the boiler

If the described causes are eliminated, there is water pressure, but the boiler still cannot be filled, the cause may be an incorrect connection (the inlet and outlet pipes are mixed up) or clogging of the mesh filter pad. Troubleshooting these problems is easy: unscrew the hoses, rinse the filter and assemble everything back in the correct order.

Scheme of operation of the water heater

Another cause of failure is a broken check valve. It is installed at the entrance to storage tank and does not allow water to return to the plumbing. It can also release excess pressure when overheated. Over time, the valve spring becomes clogged with scale and rust particles, as a result, the valve jams. Disassembly and thorough cleaning will help fix the problem. If it was not possible to clean the part and restore its performance, you will have to look for a replacement.

Having figured out why the boiler may stop working normally and how to fix the most common malfunctions, it is worth dwelling on preventive measures.

Most breakdowns can be avoided by doing simple recommendations care:

• Do not overheat water. The lower the temperature, the slower the formation of scale, leading to breakdowns.
• The design of many boilers provides for the use of softening cartridges. Do not skimp on water softening, as this will help you avoid spending on repairs.
• When leaving for a few days, turn off the device without draining the water. But turning it off at night to save energy is impractical due to the high wear of the electrical part.

Storage tanks capable of heating water to a certain temperature (colloquially - water heaters or boilers) are most often installed in those rooms where there is no centralized supply of hot water, or there is a high probability of turning it off. This device does not lose its relevance from ancient times to the present day. So, the ancient Greek mechanic Heron of Alexandria (second half of the 1st century AD) is rightfully considered the inventor of the boiler. The unit he created heated cold water with steam. Then they forgot about it, in connection with which, at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th centuries, they were forced to invent the apparatus anew. But, like any other household electrical appliance, even an improved water heater can break down as a result of internal or external factors, as well as due to the banal wear of parts. All the reasons why the boiler is not going hot water, as well as ways to eliminate them will be described in this material.

Device and principle of operation

In general, we can talk about three types of devices capable of accumulating and heating water:

• electric water heaters;
• indirect heating boilers;
• gas water tanks.

All these devices have a similar design and function on the same principle. They differ only in the heat sources with which water is heated. In this case, the role of a heater can be performed by: a heating element, a coil with a coolant supplied to it (for example, a boiler), gas-burner. Structurally, all boilers look like a wall-mounted tank, the inner surfaces of which are covered with heat-insulating material. Cold water enters it through a pipe located in the lower part, and the selection of heated liquid is carried out from the upper part.

On a note! The pressure in the tank, both at the inlet (cold water) and at the outlet (hot water), is the same and is in the range of 4.5-6.8 bar. Therefore, if cold water does not enter the tank, then there will be no hot water at the outlet either. The pressure regulator (reducer) built into the tank controls the water supply, which protects the boiler in the event of a sharp increase or decrease in pressure in the domestic water supply system.

Heaters in all boilers are located in its lower part. The water in the tank is heated to the desired temperature, and then used by the owner for its intended purpose. To maintain and, if necessary, adjust the required temperature regime, to the water heater built-in thermostat. In addition, the boiler is equipped with a temperature meter, with which the user can control the degree of water heating, and safety valve preventing unintentional leakage of fluid.

Reasons for the lack of hot water and how to eliminate them

Despite the fact that boilers are reliable in operation and designed to operate for a long time, there are cases when hot water does not flow from the tap. As a rule, this is due to the occurrence of minor malfunctions, among which the most common are:

• clogging of the inlet filter, pipes and nozzles;
• the formation of scale and salt deposits on the heating element;
• failure of the pressure regulator, check valve or thermostat.

Advice! Quite often, hot water does not come out of the tap or flows in a thin stream due to the fact that the mesh of the faucet installed in the kitchen or bathroom is clogged. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to check and, if necessary, eliminate the clogging of the mesh (aerator), which is located directly in the spout (spout) of the mixer.

Mesh cleaning carried out as follows. Close the tap, unscrew the spout from the common body of the mixer, carefully remove the parts that are there and rinse them thoroughly. If the constituent elements are heavily contaminated or have salt deposits, then they are soaked in a solution of washing liquid. At the end of the work, you need to make sure that all contaminants are removed. Then the parts are placed in the body of the spout and installed back on the mixer. Then, by opening the tap, they check whether the defect has been eliminated.

Another reason why hot water does not come out of the boiler may be failure of one or more valves responsible for the intake of cold and hot water supply. Their performance is checked before diagnosing boiler units. Faulty valves are replaced.

Clogged inlet filter, pipes and fittings

To protect the internal parts of the boiler from debris that may be in the plumbing communications common use, a coarse filter is installed in front of the inlet fitting. Severe contamination of its filter element can lead to a cessation of the supply of cold water to the tank, which in turn will cause a lack of hot water in the mixer tap.

Troubleshoot by thorough rinsing of the mesh filter element. To do this, use a special key to unscrew the plug in the filter housing and remove the mesh element from the flask. It should be thoroughly rinsed under a strong stream of water. In case of heavy soiling, the mesh must be cleaned with dishwashing liquid. After washing the filter element from dirt, it is installed in place. To speed up the process, it is desirable to have a replaceable mesh on hand.

Advice! To clean the filter element from heavy dirt, it is recommended to apply dishwashing detergent to the sponge, and then wipe the mesh with it. At the same time, experts do not advise soaking the latter in a solution of cleaning fluid.

Dirty water often clogs not only the coarse filter, but also water pipes and/or inlets. Various deposits and foreign objects found in the centralized water supply system lead to the accumulation of debris that is insurmountable for the flow of water. Most often this occurs in places of pipe bends. This problem can only be fixed replacement of old communications with plastic pipes . It is also recommended to replace the inlet pipes in case of clogging.

Formation of scale and salt deposits on the heating element

Quite often, the reasons that cold water slowly heats up in the boiler or there is no hot water in the mixer tap are scale and salt deposits that form during operation on the surface of the electric heater. At the same time, the resulting layers can not only block the hole through which water enters the boiler, but also disable the heating element.

Avoid the consequences of low quality tap water regular cleaning of heating elements will help. You can do it in the following order.

1. Drain the water from the boiler.
2. Remove protective cover.
3. Disconnect the boiler from the mains and disconnect electric wires going to the heater.
4. Before proceeding with cleaning, it is advisable to make sure that the heating element is working. To do this, use a multimeter to measure its resistance. For a serviceable heating element, the indicator will correspond to several tens of ohms. If a measuring device will show that the resistance of the heating element is zero ( short circuit) or infinity (break), then it must be replaced.
5. If the heater is in good condition, then it should be removed from the boiler, placed in a solution of citric acid, and then thoroughly cleaned of scale and salt deposits.
6. Upon completion of cleaning, all parts must be installed in their places.

Before installing the heating element, thoroughly rinse the inner surface of the tank and check the condition of the magnesium anode - if necessary, it will need to be replaced.

As for the elements that provide heating water indirectly, then they are also cleaned with citric acid-based cleaning solutions.

Important! Do not use salt, sulfur, or acetic acid. They do not cope well with scale and salt deposits, but they react well with copper and copper alloys, which are widely used in the manufacture of parts and assemblies of any water heater.

Unlike boilers with heating elements, it is possible to clean the heaters of gas appliances, as well as storage tanks with indirect water heating, only after partial, and sometimes complete disassembly the latter.

Pressure regulator failure

The lack of hot water at the outlet of the water heater may be due to either a weak pressure or a complete absence of cold water at the inlet to the boiler, or a malfunction of the pressure regulator. Having opened the cold water tap, check its presence or absence (no pressure) in the pipeline. If everything is in order with the pressure in the centralized water supply system, then you need to check and try to adjust the pressure regulator. In the event that the latter is out of order, it must be replaced.

check valve failure

Failure of the nodes installed inside the boiler can be caused by a variety of reasons. For example, a clogged check valve occurs due to the ingress of foreign objects that may be in poorly treated water. To clean the valve, it is necessary to drain all the water from the boiler, then completely disassemble it and remove debris from under the rod.

Thermostat failure

If the boiler has stopped heating water, one of the reasons for this may be a breakdown of the thermostat (temperature controller). Water heaters, as a rule, are equipped with a mechanical (built-in) or electronic (overhead) thermostat. To check their performance, you need a multimeter, which measures the resistance. The absence of changes on the multimeter indicator during measurements indicates that the thermostat is out of order and needs to be replaced. Temperature controllers cannot be repaired.

Advice! Check the thermostat only after making sure that the heaters are working.

When to Call the Master

To perform procedures related to the dismantling of individual parts of boilers, their partial or complete disassembly, it is better to invite specialists who have experience in performing similar work on models of a particular brand. This need is due to the fact that in boilers of different manufacturers there are design features relating to the placement, fastening and interconnection of internal components and parts.

For example, in water heaters from such a well-known company as Ariston, self-clamping clamps are used instead of nuts to connect pipes. And on boilers manufactured by Termex, the heating element is inserted into a hole with a diameter of 60 mm, into which neither a tool nor a hand can fit. Therefore, to fix the heating element to the boiler body, original flanges are used, the bolts of which, during operation, stick to the nuts so much that it is not possible to unscrew them. As a result of this, the fasteners (and there may be 6 or 12 of them, depending on the volume of the boiler) have to be cut off with a grinder.

So, the reasons for the lack of hot water from such household appliance, like a boiler, can be external factors, independent of the user, and internal breakdowns of the device nodes. In both cases, the intervention of specialists is required (with the exception of the lack of cold water in the water supply system), since it is not recommended to even clean the heating element on your own without work experience - this can lead to fatal breakdowns of the boiler. But if preventive maintenance is carried out on time, the device will work for a long time and without complaints.

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