Don’t Get Caught Cold: Recognizing the Critical Warning Signs Before Your Water Heater Fails Completely
Nothing ruins your morning routine faster than stepping into a freezing cold shower when you’re expecting hot water. But the good news is that hot water heaters rarely stop working without warning, giving you valuable time to address issues before facing a complete breakdown. Recognizing these early warning signs can save you from costly emergency repairs, water damage, and the inconvenience of being without hot water.
Age: The First Indicator to Consider
Before diving into specific symptoms, it’s crucial to know your water heater’s age. Most water heaters will last for about 10-15 years before they need to be replaced, though some sources indicate the average lifespan of a water heater is about 8 to 12 years. If your water heater is approaching or exceeding this age, it may be time for a replacement. If you’re unsure of your unit’s age, most companies apply a label with an installation date on it. If that’s missing, you can take the brand name and unit serial number and go online to find the date of manufacture.
Insufficient Hot Water Supply
The most obvious sign of water heater failure is a lack of hot water supply. If you can’t get enough hot water in the shower or while using the sink, your water heater might be going out. This problem often develops gradually, with you may start to realize that even though you have a decent hot water supply, it never seems to last long enough.
The culprit behind reduced hot water capacity is often sediment buildup. If your water heater has a tank, it can collect sediment buildup over time. This slowly chips away the storage space available for hot water, reducing your water heater’s capacity. When caught early, professional tank flushing can often resolve this issue.
Inconsistent Water Temperature
Another clear sign that your hot water heater is going out is that your water temperature is inconsistent. If you’re experiencing lukewarm water despite setting your thermostat to higher temperatures, this could indicate several problems. Lukewarm water typically indicates that the heating element in the tank is not working correctly. The heating element is responsible for keeping the water hot. If it fails, then you will be left with lukewarm water coming out of the tap.
Strange Noises Coming from Your Water Heater
Your water heater should operate relatively quietly, so strange noises coming from your hot water heater is another common signal of water heater failure. If your water heater is making popping, creaking or rumbling noises, it’s time to call a professional plumber. Mineral buildup and hard water can be to blame when it comes to water heater noises as well. Mineral deposits can cause popping sounds, and pockets of air in the sediment layer will cause rumbling noises.
These sounds often indicate that if your tank fills up with too much sediment, a common problem for many homes, that sediment makes it harder for the water heater to operate properly. With a model running on natural gas, sediment sits between the heating element and the water. As the water gets hotter, the sediment could pop or crackle.
Discolored or Rusty Water
Murky or rusty water is another of the common signs your hot water heater is failing. Water heater tanks have a coating that slows corrosion, but it doesn’t last forever. Rusty or discolored water coming from your hot tap is a clear sign of trouble. This often indicates corrosion inside the water heater tank or in the pipes connected to it. Rust not only affects the taste and appearance of your water but also weakens the tank, making it more prone to leaks.
When you notice discolored water, it’s important to determine whether the issue affects both hot and cold water or just hot water. If only the hot water is affected, the problem likely lies within your water heater system.
Unpleasant Odors or Taste
As it turns out, you can identify warning signs of hot water heater failure with nearly all of your senses—including scent and taste. A metallic taste in your hot water or a “rotten egg” smell can indicate that there’s a problem at hand. If your hot water smells unpleasant, like sulfur or rotten eggs, it could be due to bacteria build-up in the tank. This problem is common in water heaters that are infrequently used or set at a lower temperature, allowing bacteria to grow.
Visible Leaks and Water Pooling
Leaks are a sign your hot water heater is failing. You might see water dripping from the tank or pooling under the unit. While some leaks might be simple fixes involving loose connections or valves, a leak is never a good sign, especially if it’s coming from the bottom part of the tank. When the tank is leaking, this indicates the tank’s integrity has been compromised beyond repair. You will need to replace the water heater immediately!
The consequences of ignoring leaks can be severe. With water heater failure, upwards of 500 gallons per hour of water could get pumped into your home while you are at work! That’s 2 ½ times the amount of water in a standard hot tub! Think about all that water pumping into your home or basement while you are away.
When to Call a Professional
If you’re experiencing any of these warning signs, it’s time to contact a qualified plumbing professional. For residents in the Columbia, Missouri area, MasterTech Plumbing, Heating and Cooling has been serving the community since 1991 as a trusted, family-owned company. Whether you need routine maintenance, repairs, or are considering water heaters hinton replacement services, their certified technicians can help assess your situation and provide reliable solutions.
Frequent water heater repairs are a good sign that it may be time to replace it. If you find yourself making frequent hot water heater repairs, it may be more cost-effective in the long run to replace your water heater. A professional evaluation can help you determine whether repair or replacement is the most economical choice for your situation.
The Cost of Waiting
Delaying action when you notice these warning signs can lead to much more expensive problems. The expense, inconvenience, and potential safety hazard that a ruptured hot water heater presents far outweighs the cost of a replacement unit. For a fraction of the cost of water damage, you can have a quality, energy efficient water heater installed.
Beyond the immediate costs, the harm of a failing water heater goes beyond inconvenience. Therefore, you should always look for the signs of a water heater failure to stay proactive. As with all appliances, the sooner you address abnormalities, the better.
Preventive Measures
Regular maintenance can significantly extend your water heater’s lifespan and help you catch problems early. The good news is that having your water heater regularly maintained will prolong its life. Therefore, performing regular maintenance and flushing your tank annually is crucial.
Professional maintenance typically includes inspecting the pressure relief valve, flushing the system to remove sediment buildup, checking the anode rod, and ensuring all connections are secure. These preventive measures can help you avoid many of the warning signs discussed above.
Don’t wait for a complete breakdown to address water heater issues. By staying alert to these warning signs and taking prompt action, you can avoid the inconvenience, expense, and potential damage that comes with water heater failure. Remember, a failing water heater gives plenty of warning signs. If you know what you’re looking for, you can take action and either repair or replace your water heater in time.