Hot water is a necessity in our everyday life, without it, we can't take showers, clean our dishes, do laundry or so many other household tasks. Keeping your water heater well maintained is essential, but at a certain point, you’ll have to buy a new one. These signs will give you a better understanding of when a water heater issue can be resolved and when you need to purchase a new one.
Sign #1 - Water Leak
Even though a water leak might not seem like a big deal at the moment, it can quickly turn into one. What starts out as a small leak can end up damaging floors, sub-floors, walls, and baseboards potentially costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repairs.
The first step to avoid this problem is early detection. If you are lucky and the leak is visible early on, then you can fix it immediately. However, to determine whether or not you should replace your water heater or repair it, you should call a professional plumber.
Sign #2 - No Hot Water
When you notice a lack of hot water, the obvious first step is to check the temperature on your water heater. If you see the temperature is set much lower than what you want then adjust it.
However, if the temperature setting is not the cause of your lack of hot water, then check your gas supply. If your gas supply is shut off, this will prevent your water heater from heating the water. Try adjusting the lever and see if this resolves your problem. If this still doesn't help, check your pilot light and make sure it is lit. If there is no light, then relight it and check your water.
Finally, if none of the above solutions help you adjust your water temperature, then call a professional plumber, and they will be able to diagnose your problem and provide you with an answer!
Sign #3 - Discolored Water
Discolored water is often a sign of corrosion in your anode rod (this rod helps to protect your water heater from corrosion but usually wears out before your water heater does). This could also be a sign that the tank itself has started corroding which will be a much more expensive replacement.
If the water isn't necessarily a rust color, but it is discolored, then this could be a sign of scale buildup in the tank. To fix this problem, you might need to empty the tank, clean out the scale buildup and then refill it.
To be sure you’ve appropriately diagnosed your water heater’s problem call a professional plumber.
Whether you need to buy a new water heater, have one that you need installed, or you need repairs, Coast Plumbing, Heating & Air, Inc. can help.
When your hot water goes out your whole home is thrown into disarray. You don't need to wait to have your water heater serviced, Coast Plumbing, Heating & Air, Inc. offers same-day repair services and our plumbers answer phones 24/7. We can get your warm water back up and running again in no time.
Call us today or check out our website for more information on our water heater services!