Water heaters are an essential part of daily life and one that is not often thought about. That is until you are faced with having to take a cold shower. While there is plenty of research that suggests cold showers are good for you, it’s hard to beat the feeling of stepping into a hot shower.
That’s why you should have your hot water system inspected regularly by a professional to ensure it is working properly. They will be able to address any issues and will help you to be prepared for replacement, when necessary.
It can also be beneficial to be aware of the 5 most common signs that your water heater is about to fail.
Water Leak
Water, oxygen, and metal are all the ingredients you need to create rust. All of these components are present in the water heater. In short, it is likely to corrode and the first signs of rust are likely to be where the valves join the water heater and at the base of the heater. This leads to leaks.
If you start to notice water leaks at the bottom of your heater, combined with rust, then the heater has a limited amount of time before the leaks get serious and the heater can no longer function.
Hot Water Not Hot
Water heaters have rods inside them that heat the water, others run hot water through the heater via a gas or oil boiler. If the rods aren’t heating properly or the flow of boiler water is interrupted, your water will not heat up as much as it should.
In short, your hot water won’t be hot and this tells you the heating element needs to be changed, the sooner the better.
Discoloured Water
When you get discoloured water coming out of your faucets the most common reason is sediment in the base of your water heater. This will reduce its ability to heat water, potentially block pipes, and increase the rate of corrosion at the base of the heater.
In other words, flush your heater to prevent it from failing on you.
Strange Sounds
It may seem obvious but strange sounds are a big hint that you need professional help. Normally your water heater will make very little noise, perhaps a slight humming. When it makes any other noise there could be a serious issue. It’s a good idea to get the professionals to check it out for you before it develops into anything else.
Age
Finally, it may be ageist but water heaters are only designed to last approximately ten years. There are examples that last much longer and some don’t even make the ten-year mark. The point is to know when your water heater was made and installed. As it gets older it will be less efficient and more likely to fail.
You’ll want to be prepared for the cost of replacing it, this reduces the shock factor.
Leave a Reply