Four Signs You Need Water Heater Repairs
As a homeowner, you expect that various things in your house will eventually begin to fail over time. No system is immune from this, from your plumbing to your air conditioning, which means that things like your water heater will eventually need repair service.
Early detection is key, so pay attention to the signs listed below and schedule a water heater repair service if you notice any problems at all. Failure to do so can result in flooding and major water damage inside your home.
Discolored Water
Water heaters are designed to heat the water inside your home — not cause it to look any different. If you notice that your water is tasting funny or has a slight discoloration such as brown or even yellow, it could be indicative of rust or sediment that has gotten into your water system. Usually, this means your anode rod will need to be replaced, but you may also need to flush your system in order to get all of the dirt and debris out. Regardless, this is something that needs to be done by a professional and not by the average homeowner.
Not Enough Hot Water
Most water heaters have two heating elements — one at the top and another at the bottom. Both of these work together to warm up the water in the storage tank, so if the water that comes out of your pipes is not warm enough, it could be because one of these heating elements is out. If you have a tankless water heater, check your electronic display in the front to see if there are any issues.
Weird Sounds
Apart from simply noticing your water heater in your garage as you pull in with your car, you should barely even know that it's there. Any noise that's coming from your water heater is a cause for alarm, specifically if it's a rattling, popping, or crackling sound. These sounds could indicate a number of different issues, ranging from too much sediment on the bottom of the tank that is trapping water and bubbling towards the top to broken parts on the inside of the tank that are clinging against the walls. Professional water heater repair technicians will flush the tank, disassemble part of it, and inspect what's going on to get it working again.
Water Leaks
The precursor to any water heater explosion is finding water on the floor near the tank itself. This indicates that there is a crack somewhere that can turn into a major leak elsewhere and even fracture completely. Alternatively, you should check the drip pan and drain line nearby as that could be clogged instead. If so, it's a relatively simple fix to unclog the drain line, but you want to make sure you do that before any water damage sets in.
To learn more, contact a water heater repair contractor.