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Warning Signs of a Water Heater Failure

A Water heater is an appliance you don’t normally think about until it stops working and you experience the inconvenience of having no hot water, hearing strange popping or humming sounds, or notice leaking or discolored water. Fortunately, water heater failure doesn’t usually happen out of the blue. Learn what the symptoms of a water heater that is about to fail. Knowing these signs will help you find out if you have a problem brewing before you hear someone in your house yell, “There’s no hot water!”

NO HOT WATER

A clear sign of a hot water heater failure is a change in the water temperature.
A broken water heater will gradually stop heating your water until it runs cold all the time. In terms of water heater failure, not having any hot water is usually caused by a buildup of sediment, which separates the water from the heat source. On the other hand, a water heater overheating will cause too much hot water, due to a buildup of sediment on the heating elements that leads to overheating on the bottom of the tank.

VARYING WATER TEMPERATURE

Few things are more irritating in the morning than having the shower temperature change suddenly or constantly. If you find yourself adjusting the dial a lot, your water heater may be sending you a message. Water that changes from hot to cold without reason is a good sign it’s time to start thinking about purchasing a new unit.

RUSTY WATER

One of the common signs of water heater failure is rusty hot water. Rust-colored water coming from your faucets can be an indication that your water heater tank is corroded and rusting from the inside.  If corrosion is eating away the metal from the inside, leaks are inevitable.

Murky water from the tap can also be signs that the water heater will fail soon. The cloudy look of water is caused by mineral deposits in the system. As they build up, these deposits can clog the flow of water and damage the heater components.

LEAKS

Every homeowner fears water damage, for good reason. Examine your water heater, behind and around the unit. If you see water dripping from the pipes, leaking from the tank, or pooling around the unit, have a plumber perform a checkup. A leaky water heater is a sign that you may have a corroded tank or loose fittings, connections or elements. If the tank is damaged, it’s time to replace the water heater.

STRANGE NOISES

If you are hearing strange noises from your water heater, like rumbling, popping, loud cracks or a high-pitched whine, your water heater likely needs to be repaired or replaced. Over time, sediment builds up and hardens in the tank, causing small cracks and holes in the metal and making the water heater run less efficiently. Your water heater should run silently so when you hear loud and strange noises, it’s an indication of a problem caused by the sediment buildup. As the noises get louder, you should understand that the water heaters days are numbered.

AGE

Unfortunately, household appliances aren’t built to last forever. A decent quality water heater will usually last around 10 years before needing to be replaced. Scheduling regular maintenance can help extend the life of your unit. If you’re not sure how old the water heater is, check the serial number printed by the manufacturer. The label attached on the upper part of the heater will include the production date. The first two digits in the code are the last two numbers of the year, i.e. 04 is from 2004.  If your water heater is near the end of its life, it might be best to replace instead of repair.
Don’t wait for a problem to strike! Schedule a professional inspection with Duncan Plumbing. We install, service and repair water heaters in the Ellis County area. Call us today!  

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