Signs of Impending Water Heater Repairs

27 January 2016
 Categories: , Blog


Typically, homeowners consider plumbing services when they are facing an emergency in their home. This tends to lead to expensive repairs since most of these emergencies occur after a problem has been exacerbated over time. The best way to keep repair costs low and avoid inconvenience is keeping a look out for signs of any anomalies in your home's plumbing. One of the appliances that is prone to plumbing emergencies due to neglect is the water heater. Here are some of the signs of impending water heater repairs that would signal the need for plumbing services.

Your water heater is emitting rusty water

Brown water in your faucets is never a good sign. The first thing to check would be whether it is coming from both taps or if it is exclusive to your hot water tap. Both taps will mean that your entire household's water supply has been compromised. On the other hand, if the rust coloured water is coming exclusively from your hot water faucets, then the issue lies with the water heater.

The next thing to ascertain would be whether the rust is from the interior of your water heater or if it is stemming from the heater's pipes. To test this, draw several buckets of water directly out of your water heater. If the brown colour persists, this indicates the interior walls of the water heater are rusting and you would need to have the unit replaced before it begins leaking. Alternatively, if the brown water clear, this indicates rusty piping and you would require plumbing services to have these replaced.

Your water heater is emitting strange noises

Although some water heaters may hum when in use, it is not normal for your water heater to grumble and emit banging sounds when it is on. Typically, the cause of this is sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of your heater. As your water heater gets older, it steadily begins to deposit sediment at the bottom. The constant heating and reheating of the sediment makes it harden over time. The hard sediment deposits then begin clanking and banging on the water heater when it is in use, hence the strange noises.

A common mistake homeowners make is ignoring the strange sounds since the water heater is still functional. However, this is detrimental as the more sediment that is present, the more energy your water heater is using to operate.  The more energy used, the higher the temperatures in the tank thus causing the metal components to become brittle over time. This shortens the life span of your water heater while simultaneously increasing your utility bills. When you notice strange noises coming from your water heater, it is best to enlist plumbing services as soon as possible.

For more information, visit sites like http://www.royaltyonline.com.au.


Share