Don’t Wait Until the Water Gets Cold

No one really thinks about their hot water until they turn on the shower and realize that it’s running cold. Most of the time, when the hot water heater fails, it does so at the most inconvenient moments, such as before work, on Christmas morning, or on the coldest day of the year.

Though it might seem like the hot water was fine and stopped working suddenly, most show a few simple signs before they completely give up. Looking for these signs might help you determine if you are in danger of being left in the cold sooner rather than later.

• It’s been around. First things first: how old is your water heater? Most last between 10 – 15 years, so if your water heater is in that range, you might want to keep an eye, or an ear, out for possible problems. If your water heater is over 10 years old, it might be a good idea to replace it before a problem even begins.
• It’s producing rusty water. Simply stated, looks are everything when it comes to your water. When it stops running clear and starts to come out with a rusty tint, you know that the water heater is on its last legs. This implies that sediment is beginning to accumulate due to a failure in the tank.
• It smells and tastes funny. The water might begin to have a funny, metallic smell and taste when the tank is on the way out. This means that the tank is breaking down, and little bits of grit and flake are mixing with the water.
• It’s making noises. A little bit of noise might be normal, but when your hot water tank starts to rumble and knock, it’s a bad sign. Cracks and pops are signs that the heating element and the buildup of mineral deposits are interacting poorly and that the end is near.
• It’s not very hot. When the water comes out of the faucet warm, but not as hot as it used to be, it could be a sign that the heating element is going. Check the thermostat and adjust as needed, but keep an eye on future failure.
• It’s leaking. Possibly the most obvious sign that it’s time for a new hot water tank. If you see water around your water heater, it means internal failure. Slow leaks should be addressed before they turn into big ones as an entire tank of water leaking through the basement is damaging.

Though you might think of tile and cabinets when you think of us, we’ve been serving plumbing customers since 1971. Let us take care of your hot water tank before it’s too late. Give us a call for repairs and replacements done right, every time.