Common Hot Water Heater Problems
Most hot water heaters are engineered to last around 10 years, although gas models may last from eight to 12 years. If you’ve opted for water heater installation, you can usually plan on getting around 20 years of service from your unit. Extending the life of any water heater requires having the unit maintained and serviced regularly by a professional plumber. Still, even with maintenance, all water heaters are subject to breakdowns, which necessitate the need for hot water heater repairs.
Some signs your hot water heater needs serviced ASAP:
- Reduced water pressure
- Leaks
- Bad-smelling water
- Weird noises from tank
- Rusty water
- Water warm, not hot
- Diminished hot-water supply
- No hot water at all
It is often the case that a water heater on its way out doesn’t draw the attention of homeowners until the water heater completely fails. However, the signs above can cue you in to the fact that there may be a problem brewing with your unit. Looking for these signs can help you to catch problems with your unit before they worsen and become more expensive to handle.
Reduced water pressure from your hot water tap can also be a cause for alarm. Again, mineral deposits can be the culprit, accumulating on the components of the water heating unit can result in blockages to the pipes running from the heater. This causes a reduction in the amount of pressure, and you’ll see that play out with reduced water pressure from the shower or tap.
Leaks are an obvious sign that you need hot water heater repairs, and depending on the nature of the leaks, hot water heater replacement. Always take care of leaks right away, since even a minor leak can result in rot, decay, mold, and mildew in the home.
If you smell something musty or otherwise strange coming from your hot water, have our team look into it. A change in your water’s smell or texture can be due to mineral deposits, but it can also be due to bacteria that can harm your health.
Odd sounds can also indicate that repair service or new water heater installation is in the near future. Dirt and calcium particulate matter can cause banging and hissing noises as they’re jostled around. Sometimes a flush of the heater by your plumber can help.
Rusty-looking hot water coming from your hot tap can indicate corrosion in the storage tank, usually from minerals corroding the metal pole in the heater that’s made from aluminum and magnesium. An inspection of your water heater is needed, since the rust can indicate that your tank is subject to fail and it may soon be time for new hot water heater installation.
Water is that is less than hot – or that’s lukewarm—can be a good sign of something being amiss. Typically, this means that one of the two heating elements in your storage tank has failed or the burner has gone bad if you’re using a gas unit. Both of these are common hot water heater repairs your plumber can easily address.
Of course, if you turn the tap and you get no hot water at all, you’ve definitely got a problem. Reach out for help immediately.
