Water heaters, particularly traditional tank water heaters, are a staple of most homes in the area, and are absolutely vital to keeping your home running. Hot water is essential to cooking and cleaning, especially in the winter when the weather is cold and you need the water heater to do its job. Tank water heaters are usually very quiet, and they typically are placed in quiet out-of-the-way spots in your home, such as the basement. That’s one of the reasons why the tank model of water heating is so popular.
Unfortunately, that can be a double-edged sword in many cases. Because the system is so quiet and occupies spots that rarely see much activity in your home, problems with our water heater have a way of sneaking up on you. By the time you notice that something’s wrong, the damage could be extensive, and in many cases, it might mean replacing the whole water tank instead of just repairing it. If you want to prevent that and keep your water heater safe, you need to know if it’s in need of repairs as soon as humanly possible.
The Signs
There are a number of signs you can look for that indicate a problem with your water heater. We’ve included a list of the most common ones below:
- Strange noises, such as dripping or gurgling sounds coming from your water heater. Sediment can build up in the bottom of the tank and create gurgling noises when the water passes through it.
- Rusty or dark-colored water emerging from your taps, especially when you turn on the hot water. That’s usually caused by rust on the inside of the tank, which is created when you need to change the anode rod.
- Cool water, or simply water that never gets as hot as you expect it to.
- Hot water that runs out before you expect it to.
- Puddles around the base of the water heater, which can be caused by breaches that seal shut when the water cools.
- Leaks, or dripping water along the sides of the water heater.
- High water bills, especially when you haven’t used any more hot water than normal.
When you spot any of these signs, turn off your hot water heater and call in a trained plumber immediately.
Maintenance Is Very Helpful
Because symptoms can be hard to spot, even if you’re looking, we recommend scheduling a maintenance session for your water heater with a trained technician (ideally once a year). That allows them to flush the tank to get rid of sediment, replace the anode rod to control the rust, and handle other little tasks that can help cut down on wear and tear. It also lets the technician check for more serious signs of trouble, ideally before the problem becomes bad enough to merit replacing the whole system. That lets them schedule repairs in a timely fashion when the issue can still be contained and corrected.
For water heater services of all varieties in Brookline, MA, call on Cooling Unlimited today!
