Water Heaters

It’s easy to forget just how much you rely on your water heater until it starts acting up. Follow our guides to learn how to choose the right water heater, how to extend the life of your water heater, and the causes of some common broken water heater issues.

If you ever need [water heater repair in Fremont] or surrounding cities, Smart Choice Plumbing is here for you. We work with both tanked and tankless water heaters in multiple brands, and we even offer 24 hour emergency water heater repair. Call today to get started.

How to Prevent “Popcorn” Noises in Older Electric Water Heaters

If your electric water heater makes popping or crackling noises, you’re not imagining it. Many homeowners in the Bay Area refer to these sounds as “popcorn” noises because of their resemblance to kernels popping in a pan. While the sound itself may seem harmless, it’s a sign that your water heater could be experiencing issues [...]

By |2026-02-06T15:20:27+00:00February 6th, 2026|Water Heaters|

How Sediment in Bay Area Water Shortens Water Heater Life

If you live in the Bay Area, you’ve probably noticed your water has a distinct taste, odor, or even a slight cloudiness. While it may not seem like a big deal at first, the minerals and sediment in local water can take a serious toll on your home’s plumbing—especially your water heater. Over time, sediment [...]

By |2025-12-05T14:46:19+00:00December 5th, 2025|Water Heaters|

What Causes a Water Heater to Heat Water Too Slowly?

A water heater that heats water too slowly can be a frustrating problem, particularly when you’re in need of hot water quickly. Several factors can contribute to slow water heating times, from sediment build-up to malfunctioning components. Understanding the possible causes can help identify the issue and guide you toward a solution to restore your [...]

By |2025-06-13T14:08:34+00:00June 13th, 2025|Water Heaters|

Why Is My Water Heater Producing Water That Smells Metallic?

If your water heater is producing water that smells metallic, it can be an unpleasant and concerning issue. The metallic odor typically stems from various underlying causes, some of which may indicate a need for repair or replacement of parts. Here’s a detailed explanation of why this may be happening and what you can do [...]

By |2025-05-14T20:24:42+00:00May 14th, 2025|Water Heaters|

Why Is My Water Heater Making My Pipes Rattle?

If you’ve noticed a rattling noise coming from your pipes when your water heater is running, you’re not alone. This issue can be both annoying and concerning, potentially signaling underlying plumbing problems that need to be addressed. Understanding why your water heater is making your pipes rattle can help you diagnose the issue and take [...]

By |2025-04-14T10:22:38+00:00April 14th, 2025|Water Heaters|

How to Shower When Your Water Heater is Broken

Discovering that your water heater is broken can be a frustrating and inconvenient experience, especially when it comes to one of the daily rituals we often take for granted – taking a warm shower. However, fear not! There are several creative and resourceful ways to navigate the challenge of showering without hot water.  Let’s explore [...]

By |2024-07-15T13:52:19+00:00July 15th, 2024|Water Heaters|

How to Dispose of a Water Heater

Disposing of a water heater is a task that requires careful consideration and adherence to environmental regulations. Water heaters, like any other household appliances, can't simply be discarded with regular household waste due to the presence of potentially hazardous materials. The following guide outlines the steps you should take when disposing of a water heater, [...]

By |2024-06-14T13:17:39+00:00June 14th, 2024|Water Heaters|

How to Descale a Tankless Water Heater

Descaling a tankless water heater is a crucial maintenance task that helps ensure its efficient operation and longevity. Over time, mineral deposits, particularly calcium and magnesium, can accumulate inside the heat exchanger of a tankless water heater, hindering heat transfer and reducing its overall performance. Descaling involves removing these deposits to restore the heater's efficiency [...]

By |2024-05-15T14:39:05+00:00May 15th, 2024|Water Heaters|

What Causes Water Heater High Temperature Shutdowns?

All water heaters have safety mechanisms to shut off if they become too hot. This is an important safety feature that prevents damage to the unit and prevents safety hazards for you and your family. It can be frustrating to deal with high temperature shutdowns, as the safety mechanisms often require you to restart the [...]

By |2023-08-05T17:13:24+00:00August 7th, 2023|Water Heaters|

Why Does My Electric Water Heater Keep Turning Off?

Being an on-demand appliance, your water heater will commonly turn on and off throughout the day and night. This is to ensure there is always a certain amount of hot water available at a moment’s notice. However, there may be times when an electric water heater turns off more than it should. Or turns off [...]

By |2022-10-11T12:39:36+00:00October 11th, 2022|Water Heaters|

Which are Better: Gas or Electric Water Heaters

For those who are fans of hot showers, choosing a new water heater might actually be exciting. Whether you see the decision as fun or just a boring household task, the primary decision you have on your hands is a complicated one. Should you choose a gas or an electric water heater? That all depends [...]

By |2025-08-14T19:18:37+00:00January 27th, 2022|Water Heaters|

Why Does My Water Heater Smell Like Burning Plastic?

Burning plastic is not a pleasant smell. If you have it in your home and you’ve narrowed it down to the water heater, you may wonder why your water heater is putting off this smell. Burning smells are not something you should ignore, even though it’s not likely your water heater is on fire. It’s [...]

By |2022-07-05T17:05:06+00:00November 4th, 2021|Water Heaters|

5 Signs Your Hot water Heater is Going Out

Your water heater helps to make everything in your home comfortable. It gives you nice, hot showers, it helps to cook and wash your clothes and dishes. We count on our water heaters a lot. But sometimes you need to have your water heater replaced. it’s best to know the signs so that you can [...]

By |2022-03-16T19:32:45+00:00July 2nd, 2020|Water Heaters|

Why Does My Water Heater Keep Turning Off?

Why does your water heater keep turning off? If you stand at the bathroom sink and hot water never arrives for you to wash your hands, your water heater has probably turned itself off. There are a few problems that can cause your water heater to shut off. You can investigate this yourself, but you’ll [...]

By |2022-10-25T20:21:52+00:00October 17th, 2019|Water Heaters|

Water Heater Sounds like Popcorn? Here’s Why.

Does your water heater sound like popcorn? If you spend time near the water heater, you may hear a popping noise, or you may hear it fainter when you’re a few rooms removed. You’re right to be concerned about this unusual noise. It signals that something is wrong with your water heater. We’ll walk you [...]

By |2019-08-29T12:08:45+00:00August 29th, 2019|Water Heaters|

Why is My Tankless Water Heater Not Heating?

You turn on the shower and expect to be greeted by a hot, steamy flow of water just waiting to start your morning off the right way. To your surprise, it’s a cruel, cold stream that seems to taunt you, almost guaranteeing that your day is going to suck. Once you come to your senses, [...]

By |2025-08-14T19:19:10+00:00July 10th, 2018|Water Heaters|

Should I Buy a Tankless Water Heater?

If you’re here, it means you’re considering a tankless water heater. You’ve probably heard a lot of conflicting information about them, so we know you want a down-to-brass-tacks look at the pros and cons of these water heaters. You’ve come to the right place. In this post, we will take a look at some [...]

By |2025-08-14T19:20:31+00:00April 10th, 2018|Water Heaters|
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