Water heaters are designed to last for a long time and with yearly maintenance from a trained plumber, they can last even longer. But sooner or later, yours will wear out, like all appliances do, and when it does, you need to get it replaced in a timely and efficient manner. That often means learning to spot the signs that you need to replace the system, and take steps before it suffers a full-bore breakdown. That lets you handle the operation on a convenient timetable and with proper preparation, instead of having to scramble in the midst of a crisis.
Specific signs vary, but here are a few of the more common ones to let you know what to watch for:
- Rust in the Water. If the anode rod in your water heater isn’t replaced every year or so, the sides of your tank will begin to rust. Eventually, the rust will flake off and turn your water a brown or red. If brown, red water comes out of your faucet at anytime, you need to have a plumber check your water heater.
- High Bills. Inefficiency can often claim your water heater as it can so many other devices. The best way to determine this is simply monitor your energy bills and look for them to be higher than you’d expect or are prepared to pay.
- Puddles. You can probably spot an actively leaking water heater pretty easily. But sometimes a breach in the tank — which usually demands that the water heater be replaced — will seal up when the water inside cools off. You can still spot it by looking for puddles of water around the base of your system.
- Strange Noises. Strange noises don’t always mean replacement: sometimes, they can just indicate a need for repair. But regardless, you need a professional plumber to take a look and determine what the situation is.
Call Quick Action Plumbers to replace your faulty water heater!