Hot water is used daily from showering to cleaning to preparing a meal. It is surprising how a lack of hot water can completely cripple a household. Knowing the signs of a failing hot water heater can help get a water heater service technician in your home fast to keep your household up and running. Below, let’s take a look at three of the most common signs that a hot water heater is failing.
No Hot Water
One of the first signs of a failing water heater is a lack of hot water. People will notice that their showers are only lukewarm, or it takes a longer time to get hot water out of the tap to wash dishes. Most hot water heaters are between 30 and 50 gallons. When hot water is used, such as in a shower, more water is continuously pumped into the heater and heated via electric or gas, providing a continuous cycle of hot water. As the heater ages, mineral deposits from the water begin to collect and settle at the bottom of the tank. Over time, the mineral build up starts to take up useable space, making it more difficult to replenish the hot water. This causes the heating elements to work harder than normal and the heater will eventually fail.
Cloudy Appearance
Another sure sign of a failing water heater is cloudy water. The water can appear cloudy, or even have a metallic taste or smell. This is a result of mineral deposits building up in the water heater. Sometimes, the minerals can escape the water heater and come out through the faucet. Cloudy water and mineral deposits can impact faucets, causing clogs or restricting flow. People will also report water appearing orange. This is usually a result of rusty pipes within the water heater.
Strange Noises
When a water heater is working harder than it should people report hearing a popping or cracking sound coming from the heater. This is another symptom of hard water and mineral build up within the tank. The popping sound comes from the minerals creating a layer of sediment in the hot water heater. The pop sound comes from air bubbles escaping the mineral layer. If you hear this sound, there still might be time to save the hot water heater with a complete flush to remove the sediment from the tank.
Having hot water is pivotal to keep any home functioning. Hot water is necessary for daily activities such as showering, laundry, cooking and cleaning. If you start to see the signs of a failing water heater, it may be time to consider contacting a water heater service provider to diagnose the problem and potentially repair or replace the water heater.
