If you’re like most homeowners, you don’t give much thought to your water heater until there’s a problem with it. However, we all rely on our water heaters to provide us with nice warm water to do our dishes, clean our laundry, and wash ourselves. If you’re experiencing any of the issues that we’re going to go over below, it may be a good idea to call in a plumber sooner rather than later to get the problem fixed.
Water Temperature Problems
If you notice that your water is starting to come out colder than you’re used to, it’s likely that there’s a problem with your water heater. When water is simply coming out warm and not as hot as it should, it’s typically a faulty heating element either on the top or the bottom of your water heater. If your water heater is not producing any hot water at all, it’s likely that both heating elements are faulty. Either way, you want to contact a plumber to assess the situation and replace any faulty parts.
Leaks
Leaks should be addressed immediately because when left unchecked they can do serious damage to your walls, floors, or foundation. Water heaters can leak for a number of different reasons, and identifying the source of that reason can have a big impact on how one goes about fixing it. It could be as simple as a loose bolt on one of your heating elements that needs to be tightened back up. Or, the bottom of your water heater tank may be starting to rust through and could require an entire tank replacement.
Discolored Water
One issue that can cause a lot of concern with homeowners is when their water comes out discolored whenever they have it turned on hot. This typically indicates that there is corrosion on the inner lining of your tank. You’ll need to contact a plumber so that they can assess whether the anode rod inside is failing and if you need an entire tank replacement or not. You should never simply use discolored water as there could be increased levels of harmful sediments and minerals in it.
Annual Flushing
At least once a year, your water heater should be flushed out. This helps to remove any sediment and other debris that gets stuck inside your tank. Otherwise, it will settle at the bottom, start to corrode the tank, and greatly shorten its lifespan. If you live in a region that deals with a lot of hard water, your plumbing professional may recommend having your tank flushed two or three times per year to help keep up with the excessive amount of sediment buildup.
It’s Not Supplying Enough Hot Water
If you’ve moved into a new home or you have more people living in your home than you used to, you may start to realize that your hot water tends to run out quicker. This is due to the increased demand. It’s best to call in a plumbing professional who will be able to evaluate your current water heater and determine the best way to upgrade it to meet your new hot water demands.
Strange Smelling Water
Another issue that you’ll need to call in a plumber to handle is if your hot water starts to smell strange. Odd odors are typically a result of excessive bacteria growing inside your water heater tank. A plumber will be able to determine whether or not they can flush the tank or clean it with a chlorine bleach solution to help remove that harmful bacteria and the smell that comes along with it.
Your Water Heater Is Near the End of Its Lifespan
If you have a traditional cylindrical water heater, it’s rated to last anywhere between 10 and 12 years. While you can continue to run the water heater until it unexpectedly breaks on you, that’s not always the best solution. Contacting a plumber when your water heater is reaching the end of its lifespan is a great way to help schedule a replacement on your time. That way, you don’t have to worry about paying high replacement costs and dealing with cold water when your water heater decides to go out unexpectedly.
Helpful Plumbing Services
Efficiency Plumbing provides helpful plumbing services for the entire Hanover, MA region. We’re also here for all of your heating, cooling, water heater, water filtration, drain cleaning, gas piping, and commercial plumbing needs. Contact our office today to get help from one of our highly experienced plumbers.
