Don't Wait For a Calamity: Watch Out For These Signs That Your Hot Water Unit/Heater Is Failing

Water heaters are significant to the functionality as well as comfort of your home. Disruptions in your hot water supply will not just be inconveniencing, but may often lead to emergencies. Nevertheless, the build-up of minerals as well as corrosion of the internal parts can sometimes be inevitable. For this reason, if you neglect proper maintenance, the efficiency of your hot water unit is bound to decline significantly. Besides, your water heaters can fail completely, and this would mean replacing them. To help you, here are a few indicators of a failing water heater that you need to stay alert for:

Temperature Inconsistencies and Problems

Inconsistent temperatures could imply potential failure of your water heater. If you feel like the water does not have the desired temperature or the temperature is not as usual, for instance, when you are taking a shower, the efficiency of your heater could be failing. In addition, if there is no hot water at all, the problem could be with the heating elements. If you observe these signs, you may want to contact your plumber.

Discoloured Water

Discoloured or rusty water is also another way to determine whether your hot water heater is failing. Rusty water is an indicator that your heater could be rusting away on the inside and will soon start leaking. However, discoloured water is not always a sign of a compromised heater, especially if you have galvanized piping. Therefore, in order to avoid replacing a functioning heater, you can perform a simple test to find out whether the rust is in the pipes or the water heater. To do this, drain a few buckets of hot water from your heater, and if the water still comes out rusty by the third or fourth bucket, then most likely your heater and not the piping is faulty.

Unusual Sounds

As your water heater ages, there will be a buildup of sediments at the bottom. These sediments will eventually harden because of continued heating and reheating. When this happens, you may hear banging or rumbling sounds from your water heater as it heats up. If you hear hissing sounds, the problem could be small leaks or issues with the supply of water. On the other hand, damaged dip tubes will cause loud swirling sounds. Flushing out your tank can help fix the issue with sediments, but you need to inform your plumber when you hear such sounds.