The water heater is one of the most elusive appliances in the home. Everyone has one and everyone needs one, but nobody wants to talk about it. Many times, problems will arise with the water heater and go unnoticed and therefore, unresolved for months. This can result in wasted money, wasted time, and danger for your family.
If you have a water heater in your home that you suspect might need maintenance, here are three signs to look for.
Knocking
Do you hear a weird noise coming from the water closet? Don’t worry, it’s most likely not a monster or a ghost, but a sign that your water heater is failing. When a water heater starts to go bad it will make a knocking noise while hot water is being used or shortly afterward. This sound is caused by heavy sediment settling in the water heater, a sign that the inside is starting to rust and it may be time for a replacement.
Uneven Water Temperature
Does it take a long time for your shower to warm up? Do you find yourself moving the handle on the faucet constantly trying to control the water temperature? If so, the first step is to always check the temperature settings on your water heater. However, if those are normal, it may be time to call a trusted professional to check it out. As a water heater ages, it slowly loses its ability to maintain temperature, making water temperature one of the first indications that something might be wrong.
Leaks
Overall, anytime something starts to leak the situation is probably not good, but especially so with a water heater. Like the knocking water heater tank, a leak is another indication that there might be rusting going on inside of the water heater or the pipes. As soon as a water heater starts to leak a call should be placed to a local plumbing service to evaluate the damage and estimate the need for a new water heater.
