Most people today would not be able to live a single day at home if their water heater broke down. You can’t just enjoy a long shower if the water is too cold, especially during the winter or freezing months.
In general, most water heaters have a life expectancy of 8 to 12 years. This duration may be shortened or lengthened depending on your frequency of use and the number of regular users.
Many homeowners simply enjoy the benefits of using a water heater for a long time and most of the time they don’t realize or know that this type of equipment needs to be repaired or replaced. What are the key signs to look out for that indicate you need to repair or replace your water heater right away? Read these signs below:
You hear an annoying noise every time you turn on the heating and it never seems to stop. A water heater that creaks, pops, bangs, or groans every time it is turned on can be annoying; it can even be terrifying when this sound never seems to stop. If you always hear these types of noises, it is likely that your heater is about to fail. In most cases, constant noise can be a sign of mineral buildup or impending failure of the heating element. If you consistently encounter this problem, it’s time to consider repairing or even replacing the heater.
The water that comes out of the shower is always cold. Cold shower water is always a sign that the water heater is not working properly. Usually, before things get to this point, you may start to notice that the water coming out of the shower isn’t as hot as it used to be, or that the heat doesn’t last as long as it should. Your equipment may already be malfunctioning if there is a steady drop in water temperature.
Dirty water coming out of the shower. Brown or rusty water coming out of the shower that may have an odd metallic taste is a likely antecedent to water heater failure. Dirty water found inside the tank is also a bad sign. To determine if buildup is a problem, watch for increased sediment or sludge in the tank and tubes or hose.
The presence of water on the floor around the tank. Finally, there should never be any water accumulated around the heating unit. If you see puddles on the floor around the tank, this indicates corrosion within the water tank or some other form of failure. If you notice this, the safest course of action to take is to immediately call a plumber.