Ants living in your hot water heater?

ants in water heater

Common water heater repairs.

Ants may seem like harmless creatures, but they can cause significant issues, especially in your water heater. We frequently encounter water heater problems that are a direct result of these tiny insects.

We recently responded to a Rheem hot water repair job where the customer woke up to find no hot water. Unbeknownst to them, an army of ants had been living in their hot water system for months. The movement and waste of the ants had caused the thermostat to short out, stopping the water from heating. Fortunately, we had a suitable Rheem thermostat replacement part in the truck, and the customer was soon enjoying hot water again.

Preventing ants from living in your hot water system is essential. Here are some signs that you may have ants living in your water heater:

  • Ant trails: Clear lines of ants moving to and from the heater.
  • Debris and dirt: Accumulation of dirt and debris around the heater area.
  • Unusual noises: A faint rustling sound coming from inside the heater.
  • Ant activity: Ants moving around and/or on the water heater.

Common water heater problems caused by ants.

Water heaters are warm and dry, making them an irresistible environment for ants. The two most common problems ants cause in hot water systems include:

1. Shorting Electrical Parts : The movement and waste of ants can cause electrical parts to short out and stop working.

2. Insulation Breakdown : Inside most hot water tanks is foam insulation, often made from polystyrene, which reduces heat loss and improves energy efficiency. Ants can eat through this insulation, causing “holes” in the thermal lining and reducing thermal efficiency. If you open the access panel (usually at the bottom of the hot water heater), you may notice a sand-like substance at the bottom of the tank. This is typically a mix of thermal insulation, ant refuse, and nesting material.

Removing the ants from your water heater.

Before trying to remove the ants yourself, contact us for advice. Ant infestations often involve important electrical components, and moving the ants and their nest can dislodge these components, causing costly issues. A quick call to our friendly team could prevent a more expensive problem from occurring.

Depending on the location of the ants, the size of the nest, and the extent of the infestation, you may be able to rectify the issue yourself. Here’s our typical process when handling an ant infestation:

  1. Inspection: First, we turn off the water heater to ensure the safety of our technicians. We then open the access panel to get a better look inside. Usually, this is where the ants’ nest will be located, and the infestation is clearly evident.
  2. Removing the Nest: Depending on the size of the nest, we carefully vacuum out the ants and any associated debris. Sometimes, we do this manually to avoid damaging any components of the heater.
  3. Sealing Entry Points: To prevent future infestations, we seal up gaps and entry points. It’s important that this is done by a hot water specialist to ensure it does not inhibit the operation of the water heater or restrict the inspection of important parts.
  4. Setting Up Deterrents: Around the base of the heater, we may place ant deterrents. Natural remedies can include vinegar and essential oils, such as peppermint and tea tree oil. For a more robust solution, ant baits and traps can be used, but take care around pets, children, and native wildlife.
  5. Monitoring and Maintenance: Regularly checking the water heater and surrounding area should become part of your routine maintenance, especially in winter when ants seek warm refuges. Keep the area around the water heater clean and free of food crumbs and spills that could attract ants. Ants are drawn to food sources, so maintaining cleanliness is crucial. Regularly apply deterrents, and early detection is key to preventing a minor issue from becoming a major problem.
ANTS IN YOUR WATER HEATER? CALL US FOR ADVICE.

To organise a service for your hot water system, including removal of ants and their nests, contact our friendly team. Once onsite, we can undertake a hot water service to inspect it is working correctly and, if required, replace any parts that are not functioning correctly. Our trucks carry thousands of replacement parts and can fix problems on the spot.

We provide a fast same day service to customers throughout Sydney.