3 Warnings Your Water Heater Needs Professional’s Attention

Posted by Rooter-Man on September 18th, 2019

A malfunctioning water heater is probably not a big issue for people of Eastern PA until their first icy cold shower in the freezing winters or their water heater is burned out. People tend to ignore their water heater repair until it becomes too late and this appliance completely breaks down. Once this appliance goes on the fritz, then you start realizing how important this appliance is to your daily routine of bathing and washing in the weather when temperature goes extremely down.

So, here, we are going to tell you the three alarms through which your water heater inform you that something is wrong with it and it needs a quick professional inspection and repair. 

• First Warning: Your Water Heater is Too Old

In case you don’t know how long it has been for your water heating equipment to be working in your home or you couldn’t recall when you have purchased it, please look for the manufacturer’s sticker on the top of the water heater.

It contains important information about the serial number and the manufacture date. Most companies recommend replacing this equipment every 8 to 12 years, depending upon the location and type of water supply.

The size of your family and the amount and the rate at which the hot water is used in your home also play a great role in determining the service life of a water heater.

So, if it has already served for this lifespan, consider hiring awater heater repair technician before the cold months arrive.

• Second Warning: Water heater is Dispensing Warm Water, Not Hot

For an electric water heater, this could be a potential warning that the heating element has burnt out. However, in a gas water heater, warm water might mean extinguished pilot light. So, make sure the pilot light is lit, the gas is connected, and thermocouple is working properly.

On each type of water heater, thermostat should be set between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. In case the water is not reaching that temperature range, it means it is calling for a professional’s help.

• Third Warning: Water Heater is Dispensing Rusty or Metallic Water

When you notice that the hot water has a rusty tint, it reveals that the inside body of water heater has started to corrode or it might be the case that the pipes are rusting. To check, drain two 5-gallon buckets of water from the heater. If water still doesn’t run clear by the third bucket, it is a warning that the rust is inside the heater.

If your water smells metallic or it tastes so, it could mean that the sediment or metal flakes are getting mixed with the water. Try the above method to determine whether the problem is residing inside the equipment or hot water pipes.

Apart from this, water heater also needs repairing when it starts causing rumbling, banging, and sizzling sound or it begins to leak.

Whenever you notice any of these warnings, know that you need to call a water heater repair professional immediately. Otherwise, the damage may aggravate further and the repair cost would pile up.