No matter the season, no matter where you live, no matter who you are… there is one system in your home you’ll always need and probably take for granted. That’s your water heater! It’s easy to just accept that your taps will always provide hot water when it’s needed—but the truth is this is only possible if your water heater is properly cared for.
Think about it—your water heater goes through a lot of stress to make cleaning, bathing, and cooking possible. At some point, you’ll need to have your water heater professionally maintained—we recommend this once a year—and at some point still you may need water heater repairs. But how will you know this is the case?
Read on to discover some of the signs of a water heater in disrepair, and should you suspect something is amiss with your water heater, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team!
Drop in Hot Water Volume
Have you noticed household members complaining about going with lukewarm or cold showers in the morning when this never used to happen? This means your water heater is likely losing heating power. This is one of the most common indicators that a water heater either needs to be repaired, or even that it needs replacement if it’s a couple of decades old.
Discolored Water
If you turn on your taps and see discolored water, it’s of course cause for concern and you should call a plumber no matter what. If, however, that discolored water is only coming from your hot water taps throughout the home, then you’re very likely looking at a water heater that has begun corroding.
Tank water heaters have a component called an anode rod that must be replaced on occasion to absorb rust, but again, if maintenance is skipped, then this might be missed. Once corrosion occurs inside a water heater tank, it’s time to replace the system.
Rumbling Noises
The noise can sound alarming—is your water heater about to explode?
That’s probably not the case, but this noise still isn’t something you should ignore. If can mean an increase in water pressure within the tank, sediment settling along the bottom of the tank, a broken expansion tank, or even cold and hot water mixing at the top of the tank due to a broken dip tube.
The best thing you can do, instead of trying to guess what the problem is, and give our pros a call as soon as you can.
Water Leaks
The only area where you should ever see water dripping from is the pressure relief valve. If you see water dripping or pooling anywhere else around your water heater, it means you have a leak—and the problem must be remedied before it becomes far worse.
Corrosion
We mentioned discolored water above being a sign of corrosion within your tank, but you should also be on the lookout for corrosion on the outside of the tank, too. If you see this start to appear on your water heater, it can sometimes be repaired—but the only way to know for sure is to have a professional water heater specialist inspect it.
See why our customers keep saying, “I Love My Design Comfort!” Contact us today for expert Salt Lake City water heater services.
