Concerned About Your Hot Water? 5 Signs You Need Water Heater Repair | Schertz, TX
It is easy to take hot water for granted if you are used to turning on the tap and discovering hot water in the morning. However, if you don’t take care of your water heater you won’t have the luxury of hot water. Instead, you will only have cold water pouring out of your faucet. That is not the way anyone wants to start their day, which is why it is important to take some time to learn the top signs you need water heater repair. It takes a few minutes to learn about some indicators that can save you down the road.
Before we get started, remember that one great way to extend the lifespan of your water heater is with a regular water heater maintenance visit. A lot of homeowners don’t realize that you can book an annual service visit. During this visit, the plumber will check your water heater out and make sure that no pieces are wearing down while monitoring the sediment levels to give you an accurate idea of how long of a lifespan your unit will have left.
This one simple visit can prevent a lot of water heater repair visits since you can proactively take care of impending repairs at this time. It is always better to get ahead of potential issues so that you don’t end up with cold water during your morning shower. Plus, you can budget your repairs instead of requiring the work of an emergency plumber when you discover you don’t have any hot water.
All of that said, sometimes things can go wrong with your water heater regardless of anything you do because wear and tear is inevitable, and machines can break without any warning. If you find yourself in this type of situation, then you need to identify that you need help and then call a local plumber for water heater repair. The following are some of the biggest signs that it might be time to call for help from a plumber.
Strange Noises Coming from Your Water Heater
One of the first signs that something is going on with your water heater is strange noises coming from your water heater. Sometimes people will hear a whistling noise, whereas other times, it is a knocking or banging noise that tells them something is wrong. Despite the urge to ignore the sound and see if it will go away, any odd noises should indicate that you need to call for water heater repair right away. Whistling noises can be a sign that dangerous pressure is building up inside of your water tank, while knocking and banging noises usually indicate that sediment is building up that is interfering with the heating element.
The Temperature of Your Hot Water Varies Greatly
Another big sign that you need to call for water heater repair is if you notice that the temperature of your hot water seems to vary greatly, sometimes within the same bath. If you start a shower with hot water and then deal with lukewarm before ending up with hot water again, this is a sign that your water heater is warming unevenly, which usually indicates that a large amount of sediment is interfering with the process. Sediment is a result of the minerals and metals from your water settling on the floor of your tank and is one of the leading reasons that people end up replacing their water heaters. Eventually, your water won’t vary in temperature; it will just turn cold, forcing you to replace your entire unit if you don’t take prompt action.
You Run Out of Hot Water Fast
Another similar sign that something is wrong with your water heater is if you run out of hot water fast. If you start to notice that you are leaking your hot water be it in the bathroom or the kitchen doing dishes, then you need to have someone come out to your home for water heater repair. You shouldn’t have to worry about racing through a shower so that you don’t end up with a cold one. This is a sign that your water heater is not working effectively and needs to be looked at. Keep in mind that while you may be able to race it, your dishwasher and washing machine cannot, so appliances in your home are probably not going to work as effectively until you get to the bottom of the situation with prompt water heater repair.
Discolored Hot Water
If you notice that your hot water is starting to come out of your faucets with a rusty or brown color, then this is a sign that your water heater may be rusting from the inside out. If you see rusty water out of both your hot and cold taps, then you have a larger plumbing issue, but if you only see it out of your hot tap, then this problem can be traced back to your water heater. You may not be looking at water heater repair at this point, but instead, a complete water heater replacement.
You Spot a Leak Near Your Water Heater
Finally, your water heater should never produce enough water that causes a leak. A water heater does not release condensate. Therefore, if you notice a leak near your water heater, you need to take quick action before you end up with 40 gallons of water in your home. In this situation, a quick call to a water heater repair company is your only option.
If you have noticed any of the above signs in your home, you must get help quickly. Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio to get help today.
See our most recent blog on this topic here.