Protect Your Water Heater: How Weather Impacts Its Performance

We rely on hot water daily for tasks like cooking, bathing, washing dishes, and doing laundry. Homeowners use various sources of energy for hot water heaters, such as electricity, gas, propane, or oil. Traditionally, hot water systems used tanks for storing water, but today, tankless or “on-demand” water heaters are also increasingly popular.

Hot water systems are sometimes exposed to volatile conditions such as freezing cold temperatures, extreme heat, and humidity. These factors can reduce efficiency, leading to higher utility bills, increased wear and tear, and costly repairs.

The Importance of Weather-Proofing Your Water Heater

Weather-proofing your home’s water heating system involves taking a proactive approach to implement preventative measures to counter weather-related challenges. Weather-proofing reduces the likelihood of your tank-style or tankless water heater not working in the cold weather months or your utility expenses spiking in the summer. Failing to weather-proof your water heater is more than an inconvenience that may result in needing to replace parts prematurely and can shorten the overall lifespan of the unit.

Effects of Cold Weather on Water Heaters

How can cold weather affect a hot water heater? During the frigid winter months, the incoming water is colder, which places the water heater at an immediate disadvantage, as it must exert more energy to heat the cooler water to the preset temperature.

The pipes that carry the water throughout the system are also colder in the winter, which can reduce the temperature by up to roughly 10 degrees and make you think that the water heater’s temperature is too low.

Homes are often cold and drafty in the winter, meaning that home occupants will use much warmer water, placing additional stress on the system.

Can a water heater freeze in cold weather? Typically, uninsulated pipes and fixtures of a water heating system are the most susceptible to freezing, rather than the water inside the tank.

How Hot Weather Impacts Water Heaters

Those with gas water heaters may find it difficult to keep the pilot light on during extremely hot weather. This occurs because the room’s temperature exceeds the temperature set on the appliance’s thermostat, which prevents the gas valve from igniting the pilot. Excessive ambient heat can also impact the accuracy of the thermostat, causing underheated or overheated water temperatures.

Summer heat creates additional stress on older electrical components. Electrical connections can expand at extremely high temperatures and short circuits.

When exposed to very high temperatures, the water inside a heater is vulnerable to thermal expansion, which results in surging pressure that might cause a burst or a leak if the appliance’s pressure relief valve malfunctions.

Humidity and Water Heaters

As the hot water in a traditional tank is used, colder water enters to replenish it. Tanks in hot and humid spaces have water vapor that becomes visible in the form of condensation. Similarly, tankless heaters are sometimes positioned in attics or other damp areas that lack air conditioning, which results in excessive condensation that causes a system to shut down because it activates the leak detection module. Moisture and humidity are also responsible for the development of rust on key valves and connections in hot water heating systems.

Common Weather-Related Water Heater Problems

Part Failures: Weather-related extremes often cause gas burners, heating elements, pressure relief valves, and thermostats to fail prematurely.

Burst Pipes: In icy conditions, uninsulated pipes may burst, creating a need for costly repairs.

Shortages of Hot Water: Extreme temperatures often hinder efficiency, leaving home occupants without any remaining hot water.

When to Seek Professional Help

What are likely signs that it is time to contact a service professional for repairs to a hot water heater? Common warning signs include:

• You notice a sharp increase in utility expenses
• The presence of rust or corrosion around the water tank, pipes, or valves
• A leak is discovered
• You experience inconsistent or fluctuating water temperature
• The hot water tank makes knocking, cracking, or whistling sounds
• It takes much longer for running water to warm up

Keep Your Water Heater Weather-Ready with Mr. Appliance

The service team with Mr. Appliance^® provides top-quality tank and tankless hot water repair and maintenance solutions for homeowners across North America. We have experience working with the leading brands of residential hot water heaters in Canada, including A.O. Smith, EcoSmart, Giant, Onsen, Rheem, and Westinghouse. Our technicians have fast access to needed replacement parts, such as combustion device assemblies, flow sensors, heating elements, ignitor coils, valve kits, and thermostats.

This article is intended for general guidance only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Mr. Appliance^® is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Mr. Appliance^® for more information and a professional on-site assessment.