Just like any complex machine, a water heater wears down over time. Taking good care of your water heater helps it last longer, but eventually, all water heaters need maintenance. Recognizing the signs that your water heater needs servicing will help you to better take care of it. Taking better care of your water heater will help you take better care of your home.
If you notice any of these warning signs, call your plumber for some water heater repair right away!
No heat or inconsistent heat.
Obviously, if you can't get hot water at all, there's almost certainly problem with your water heater. Heat fluctuations can be just as problematic, too. Fluctuating heat is typically a sign that mineral deposits have built up around your heater's heating element.
Mineral deposits block the unit's heating element, interfering with the water heating process and often overheating the tank itself. If the unit isn't heating or heats inconsistently, you should consider calling an expert soon. We can figure out what's causing the problem and recommend the best possible fix.
Low pressure for hot water.
Unfortunately, mineral build-ups can affect more than just the heating unit. When deposits build up enough, they can block off the pipes connecting to the water heater.
As it struggles to squeeze past these blockages, your hot water will lose much of its regular pressure. Flushing and cleaning your water heater's tank helps remove these troublesome build-ups.
It's making strange sounds.
A water heater isn't a silent appliance. Some water heater noise is natural and expected. If that noise starts to disturb your day-to-day life, however, then it's a bad sign you should address.
Banging, popping, or cracking sounds inside your heater's tank are a sign of mineral build-up. The noises happen when hot water gets trapped beneath the minerals until too much pressure builds. The disturbed water eventually pushes past the minerals in the form of the popping bubbles that make the sounds you hear. Flushing out your water heater tank should solve this problem almost immediately. Be sure to call the licensed plumbers at The Pink Plumber to perform this maintenance to ensure the procedure is done correctly.
There is water pooling around its base.
This is probably the most alarming sign of trouble of all. If it looks like your water heater is leaking or "sweating," you should have it looked at immediately. Too much pressure, heat, or strain may fracture or even rupture a water heater tank over time.
Check the base of the water heater for signs of pooling about once every two weeks. If it looks like you're losing water, give us a call right away.
If you think your water heater is in need of service, all you have to do is call the pros at The Pink Plumber. We offer emergency weekend and evening hours, so you never have to wait to get the service you need.
