Let’s be honest — there’s never a good time for your home’s water heater to stop working, but it’s often easier to deal with during the summer than it is during the winter. Still, it’s always best to be prepared for the most common problems people encounter with their water heaters during the hot and sticky summer season. Then, you can form a water heater repair plan and have minimal downtime. For those with gas water heaters, poor ventilation is the most common problem. Here’s what you need to know about what insufficient ventilation can do to your home’s water heater during the summer and how to solve it.
The pilot light of your water heater goes out during days above 100 degrees F.
As mentioned, for some homeowners with gas water heaters, it’s not all that uncommon for the pilot light to go out during very high temperatures — around 100 degrees F. This occurs as a result of the gas valve failing to open and light the primary burner. This results in a chain reaction and the heat from the pilot light’s flame isn’t hot enough to perpetuate a sufficient draft, and the oxygen will quickly get burned up and the pilot light will go out.
The main cause of this issue is insufficient ventilation, which can lead to improper gas combustion if you don’t improve ventilation or seek out a water heater repair. You may have to add vents and/or fans to the area to improve the air circulation if the water heater is located in your home’s attic. If it’s location is in the garage, you may need to air condition the space as well. If you have the budget for a larger investment, consider installing a tankless hot water heater, which will eliminate this issue entirely.
Most tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years, and the same can be said of traditional water heaters with proper maintenance. Understanding this issue can bring you one step closer to problem prevention and proper care.
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