Warmer weather during the summer may mean you won’t turn on your furnace, but there’s one heating system in your house that will keep working away: the water heater. No matter the outdoor temperatures, you still must have hot, running water for jobs like cooking, washing the dishes (cold water doesn’t cut it when it comes to grease!), showering, and bathing. You can’t afford to have your hot water vanish because your water heater abruptly fails on you.
Fortunately, water heaters rarely stop working without giving some warning signs. Below we’ve listed signs that tell you it’s time to call for service for your water heater in Clovis, NM—before you lose your hot water entirely!
1. The Hot Water Volume Is Dropping
During the morning showers in your household, are people more often getting trapped with lukewarm showers? If this hasn’t happened before because there was always sufficient hot water for everyone, it means something is wrong with the water heater. The unit might have a broken dip tube or trouble in its gas burners. This is a common issue with older water heaters, so it may be a good idea to replace the old unit with a new one. You might even consider a tankless water heater.
2. Strange Noises From the Unit
Rumbling, gurgling, popping, bubbling … all noises you may hear coming from the water heater tank that you’ve never heard before. Don’t panic: the water heater isn’t likely to burst. What’s likely happening is water is bubbling up through a thick layer of sediment on the bottom of the tank. This is a problem that often occurs because the system isn’t getting regularly maintained. Too much sediment and the unit won’t be able to effectively heat the water and stop working.
3. Discoloration in the Water
This is a sign that corrosion is beginning to affect the tank—and that’s a huge problem. Water heaters are designed to resist corrosion for years, but an aged system will become prone to rust. In the case of a rusting tank, replacing the water heater is the best approach.
4. Water Pooling Around the Unit
The only water that should be dripping out of the water heater is from the pressure relief valve. If you notice water around the base of the unit, there’s leaking occurring, probably at connection points. Call for repairs as soon as you can, since leaks will quickly worsen and may even lead to water damage.
5. You’ve Repaired the Water Heater More Than Twice During the Last Year
When repairs become common for a water heater—patching up leaks, flushing out sediment, etc.—then the system is likely on its last legs. The standard water heater will last for around 15 years (tankless systems will last longer), after which you can expect repair issues to start cropping up frequently. Don’t head into another season with a water heater that needs routine repairs, since the risk of a full failure is high. Contact our professionals for an expert opinion on whether it’s time for a new water heater.
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