What are the signs your hot water heater is going out?

You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. It’s true in love songs, and it’s true of water heaters.

Your water heater works hard every day to make sure you can shower, bathe, and wash your clothes and dishes. But eventually all that hard work will take a toll and your water heater will give out, leaving you without those home comfort necessities.

One potentially saving grace is that your water heater will often let you know it’s about to quit on you before it shuts down completely. If you spot these problems, you can upgrade your water heater before you lose hot water service altogether.

Here are seven signs your water heater is about to go out:

Rusty water – Reddish water could mean that your water heater’s storage tank is rusting from the inside. If that’s the case, don’t wait too long to replace your water heater, or you could find yourself with an unexpected flood in your basement.
Odd noises – Sediment can build in older water heaters (see #3 below), causing loud noises when the heater is in use. This could be a sign that a professional plumber needs to flush your tank – or it could mean it’s too late for that.
Poor drainage – If you attempt to drain the hot water tank from you tank (something you should do this at least once a year) and the tank is so filled with sediment that no water comes out when you open the valve, there is no use contacting us for a water heater repair – it’s time for a new water heater.
Leaks – Metal in an older storage tank can crack, causing leaks around your water heater. If you see puddles when the water heater is in use, you probably have a leak – could be time for a water heater upgrade.
Lukewarm water – If your hot water isn’t consistently hot, it might only need a simple repair – but it could be a more significant problem. Contact us to have one of our water heater experts take a look.
A faulty pilot light – A faulty thermocouple or a problem gas valve could cause a problem with your pilot light. If you replace the thermocouple and the pilot still goes out, your electromagnet may no longer work and you may need a new gas valve. If your tank is outside the warranty, replacing the gas valve isn’t worth the money.

Not sure if you need a new water heater? We can help. Contact Clyde S. Walton today to learn more about water heater repair and water heater upgrade options for your Montgomery or Bucks County home. We feature electric & gas water heaters from Bradford White, high efficiency tankless and solar water heater options, and more. Call us for a FREE, no obligation estimate today!

Clyde S. Walton – Proudly serving Lansdale, Abington, Norristown, Warminster, Warrington, Horsham, West Norriton and surrounding towns in Montgomery and Bucks counties.