3 Signs Your Water Heater Is on the Verge of Breaking Down

Let’s be real, the water heater in your home isn’t a topic your family usually discusses, at least while the appliance is functioning properly. However, when cold showers become a regular occurrence, the health of your home’s water heater quickly turns into a main talking point; especially when deciding whether the appliance needs servicing or replacing. If your water heater is displaying any of the symptoms listed below, it’s time to call your knowledgeable neighborhood plumber.

Age Matters

The age of your water heater factors largely when determining whether your appliance needs repairing or replacing. Most water heaters are expected to last 8 to 12 years. Writing down the month and year you purchased the unit in its owner’s manual will help you keep track of the appliance’s age. If you weren’t the one to install your home’s water heater, and you’re not sure how old it is, go to the manufacturer’s website and use the unit’s serial number to find out the month and year the appliance was made. Replacing an older malfunctioning water heater with a new and more efficient unit is best for your home and your wallet in the long run.

A Noisy Water Heater

Over time, as your water heater gets older, more and more sediment falls to the bottom of its tank. Eventually, due to heating and reheating, the sediment hardens, which causes your unit to become noisy and less efficient. As the appliance’s efficiency drops, the time it takes to heat the water in the tank grows longer, meaning the metal the tank is made out of acquires more wear and becomes brittle faster, which can lead to small holes in the metal. If your water heater clanks or bangs, its time to contact a professional plumber.

Rusty Water Inside the Water Heater Tank

Rust-colored water coming out of your faucets and your shower heads can mean one of two things, your home has galvanized pipes that are corroded or the inside of your water heater is rusted. If you think your hot water heater is the cause, try draining around 10 to 15 gallons of water out of the tank. Once you reach 15 gallons and you discover the water is still rust-colored, a corroded tank is clearly the issue. Unfortunately, that means it’s time to start shopping for a new hot water heater.

Knowing when to repair or replace your water heater isn’t always easy. Fortunately, contacting a highly trained plumber can get you the answers you’re looking for. If you’re worried about your unit’s declining performance, please contact us today and we’ll be happy to answer all your questions.