Your water heater is one of the unsung heroes of your home. It helps ensure your showers are warm, you can wash dishes and your clothing in hot water, and ensures you have hot water for everything else you need around your home.
Unfortunately, your water heater can often experience problems that may warrant water heater repair from trained professionals. These problems can be obvious, such as the complete lack of warm or hot water, but can also be a lot more subtle and require some identification.
If you don’t get someone in to inspect and/or fix the issues, the problems can often worsen, so don’t hesitate or leave things too long. With that in mind, this blog post is going to go through some signs that your water heater might be experiencing problems that need fixing.
You are Running Out of Hot Water More Quickly
Running out of hot water can be a very annoying experience. Whether you lose heat mid-shower or when washing clothes, it can be very frustrating. There are some things you can do to reduce the chances of running out of hot water, but if you are still running out, it could be a sign of a deeper issue.
If your hot water heater goes too long without being flushed, you may have a lot of sediment and particles collecting in the tank. As this builds up more and more, your tank needs more energy to heat up the water, and thus it takes longer. In a similar vein, the limited hot water that is being created will be exhausted very quickly.
A simple call to an expert to get your system inspected and flushed can often fix this issue or allow the experts to identify if the problem is something else altogether.
Your Water Heater is Getting Older
Another sign that your water heater might be experiencing problems is if it is getting old. Over time, this appliance (like any other) will often become less effective, less efficient, and more prone to experiencing problems. Particles can build up and potentially even eat away at some parts of the appliance.
Even if nothing seems wrong right now, if your system is getting up there in age, it is good to consider and start planning for a replacement or repairs. As for how long a water heater lasts it can depend, but they will normally last around 8-12 years. If yours is approaching that number, getting it inspected frequently and planning for repairs or a full replacement is normally a good idea.
Water Coming From Your Faucets is Discolored
Of course, when you turn on a tap, you expect clean and clear water to come through the faucet. However, there are some times where it may come out looking cloudy, rusty, or discolored in another way. The existence of slightly discolored water coming from your faucet could be a sign something is wrong with your hot water heater.
This could be due to rust in the pipes or tank, buildup or sediment in the tank, or another similar issue. Rust can form over time in the tank, and once the protective interior coating goes away, it can begin to show itself in your water. This not only looks bad, but discolored water can also be very unhealthy and taste awful at the same time.
If you notice any of these signs, be sure to call in a professional to inspect and/or fix your water heater and get it back up and running.
