From enjoying a hot shower or a relaxing bath to having instant hot water for cooking and cleaning, water heaters help keep your home and family functioning. These plumbing devices are often tucked away in a basement, utility closet, or garage and, consequently, easy to forget and ignore. Yet, not regularly maintaining a water heater could cause you to experience one of the biggest and most expensive messes a homeowner faces.
Let’s play out a possible scenario: You’ve just arrived home from a busy day, and you walk downstairs to do a load of laundry. You’re met with water all over the floor, and, after looking around, you discover your water heater has been leaking gallons and gallons of water.
Your finished basement has been assaulted. Not only are you going to be dealing with the potential for dreaded mold, but you also must replace insulation, dry wall, baseboards, and floor coverings. Oh, and by the way, some furniture and several cardboard boxes containing papers, documents, and photographs have been damaged. You’ll be spending hundreds – maybe thousands – of dollars to repair the harm done to your home and valued possessions.
It’s inevitable every water heater will eventually begin to wear out, but there are signs to help you avoid a water heater crisis.
Signs Your Water Heater is Wearing Out
Cold Water in the Shower
A cold water shower is an obvious sign of deterioration. A heating element is probably broken, and your heater is on its way to failing.
Water Heater Age
Age is another indicator your heater is on its last leg. Water heaters last between six and twelve years. If your device is older than ten years, it’s likely time for action.
With the busy and hectic world we live in, who can remember, or even know, when their heater was replaced? Well, here’s a tip for you. Appearing on the upper part of the heater’s tank is a manufacturer’s serial number. The first digit stands for the month; i.e., if your heater has an “A”, it was created in the month of January. The following two numbers are the year the heater was made; i.e., a “14” signifies the heater was made in 2014.
Knocking Sounds
Knocking, popping, or whining noises are evidence of sediment buildup. As this sediment hardens, it moves around the tank and causes weird sounds.
Water Odor or Color
Rusty, smelly, or murky water is another signal of sediment buildup. Your water will turn colors, and the interior of your tank could be damaged.
Leaks
Leaks are clear evidence your heater must be replaced immediately. You’ll notice moisture or puddles around the base of your heater, and possibly water corrosion on the side of the tank.
Many water heaters are situated on top of a drip pan that drains outside the home. However, if the entire contents of a heater pour out quickly enough, the drip pan won’t be able to get the water outside fast enough.
Call a Plumber Before Your Water Heater Fails
When you spot signs your water heater is failing, call a plumbing expert who will resolve the issue for you.
In the event this technician reports your heater needs replacing, you have a number of choices regarding the type to best meet your needs. Considerations will include energy efficiency, space, environmental impact and, of course, your budget.
To keep things easy for you, your Flader plumber can provide a list of all that is available in today’s marketplace. Recent technological advancements in this area include heat pump and hybrid heaters, along with solar, tankless, and condensing water heater possibilities.
When a hot water heater fails, it can be more than just an inconvenience and an expense. The scene we played out earlier could actually be on the minor side of possible consequences. Some water heater failures can result in disaster, from the entire house flooding to risking an explosion from pressure building up in the tank. While circumstances like this may feel overly dramatic, it’s important to have a process in place for water heater maintenance.
Whether you take care of your water heater yourself or work with a trusted professional Flader plumber, it’s critical to manage this device before a calamity occurs.
We Help Homeowners Just Like You
Flader Plumbing and Heating is uniquely suited to determine the solution that best fits your home and family’s needs. We’ve been serving your neighbors and our community for over 100 years and 4 generations.
The Flader Difference
Only Flader Plumbing and Heating delivers:
- The most responsive service. We’re here for you 24-hours/7-days a
week. - Personal attention from certified and licensed technicians.
- The most dependable equipment and parts.
- Money saving maintenance plans.
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
Reliability
Flader Plumbing and Heating recommends equipment, models, and brands proven to have the fewest problems and related service calls. We specialize in:
Comprehensive Services
Whether you need a new water heater, your A/C replaced, or your sump pump serviced, we are knowledgeable and provide expert service. Our professional technicians arrive on time, listen to your concerns, and answer your questions, They will recommend the right solution and deliver as promised. Flader technicians average 15 years of experience and are EPA certified.
Expert service, quality parts, and satisfaction guaranteed. There is no reason to compromise.
Call us at 847-491-6980.
