Water Heater Trouble? Here’s What Texas Homeowners Should Check Before It Gets Cold

We’ve seen it too many times: winter rolls in, and suddenly the hot water cuts out, or something starts leak’n. If you’re a homeowner in Texas, now’s a pretty smart time to check your water heater and make sure it’s not about to cause you headaches.

Here’s a look at some of the more common issues we run into—and what to do about 'em before things get too chilly.

1. High Water Pressure? Could Be Workin’ Against You

Yeah, high water pressure feels nice in the shower, but too much of it can actually wear out your system faster than you’d think. We’ve seen it damage water heaters, pop off valve seals, and push pipes past their limit.

You might wanna have a Pressure Reducin’ Valve (PRV) put in if your home doesn’t already have one—it just keeps things from workin’ harder than they gotta.

2. Got Your Heater Up in the Attic?

This one’s real common. Lotta homes around here have water heaters sittin’ up in the attic where it gets hotter than heck in the summer. Thing is, all that heat up there takes a toll—it shortens the life of the heater and makes it burn more energy just to do its job.

If it’s an option, think about movin’ it down to the garage or somewhere a little cooler. Could save you down the road.

3. Two Heaters, One Actually Workin’?

Some houses have dual heaters, but only one of ’em is pullin’ its weight. If they’re set up in parallel but not balanced right, you end up wastin’ power and the other one just sits there collecting dust (sometimes literally).

We usually recommend swappin’ to a series setup so they work together—and evenly.

4. Maybe It’s Time to Go Tankless?

If your old heater ain’t keepin’ up or it’s startin’ to feel a little sluggish, you might wanna look into a tankless setup. They don’t keep a big ol’ tank of hot water ready—they just heat what you need, when you need it.

They're smaller too, so if you're tripping over stuff in the garage, it can free up some space. Most folks that make the switch say, “Dang, shoulda done this sooner.”

5. Expansion Tank... Ever Touched It?

Expansion tanks don’t get talked about much, but they matter. We recommend replacin’ ’em every 7 years or so. If they go bad, you’re lookin’ at leaks—or worse, a total failure that floods part of the house. No thanks.

If you don’t remember the last time someone checked it, that might be your sign.

6. Cold Snap? Don’t Get Caught Off Guard

We don’t get deep freezes often, but when they hit, they hit hard. And if your system already has weak spots—leaks, pressure issues, old parts—cold weather’ll make things worse, fast.

We’re offerin’ free winter checkups right now, just to give folks peace of mind and maybe catch stuff before it becomes a bigger fix.

We’re Also Givin’ You a Deal...

If you've been waitin’ to swap out an old water heater—or jump on that tankless upgrade—we're givin’ 10% OFF (up to $500) through Dec 31, 2024.

No strings, just a little help before things freeze up. Snap a screenshot or just call us and mention the deal.

📞 214-287-0445Teh Jensen Plumbing teamPlumbing Done Rite. Every Time.