How Do You Know a Water Heater is Going Bad?
When you start having problems with your water heater, you usually want solutions fast. Being without hot water isn’t just uncomfortable, it prevents you from living your daily life. Not to mention, if your water is too hot, it can be a safety hazard for you and your family. That’s why it’s important to know the telltale signs of a bad water heater. If you can mitigate water heater problems early, you can avoid water heater emergencies.
What should you look for if you suspect your water heater is going out? Some common signs of a water heater in need of repair or replacement are:
- Insufficient hot water
- Rust-colored water
- Leaky tank
- Water heater age
- Rumbling sounds in the water heater tank
- Faulty pressure-release valve
- A bad smell in the hot water
When Do You Need Emergency Water Heater Service?
Not every problem with your water heater is an emergency. It’s important to know when you need express water heater service and when it can wait.
Emergency situations could be when you have no hot water at all or when water is too hot. Water that’s too hot could scald you, so it poses a safety risk. Another problem that would need an emergency fix is a leaky tank. If water is escaping from the bottom of the tank, then your tank has likely rusted due to sediment buildup. This issue should be resolved right away to prevent water from pooling in your home.
Some repairs, like rust-colored water or rumbling sounds, simply require you to clean out your water heater tank. Usually, there’s no need to replace water heaters in situations like these. Some problems are non-emergencies but do require replacement – like getting rid of a water heater at the end of its lifespan.
How to Handle a Water Heater Emergency
What should you do if you have a water heater emergency on your hands? If you’ve determined that your water heater issue is urgent, the first thing you should do is turn off the power supply and water supply to the water heater. Shutting these off will prevent any further damage.
For electric water heaters, turn off the circuit breaker. For gas water heaters, find the dial close to the thermostat and turn it toward the off position. To turn off the water supply to the heater, locate the plumbing that goes into the water heater, usually near the top of the tank. Turn the valve to stop the flow of the water.
Once you’ve cut off power and water to the water heater, contact an emergency water heater repair service. At Your Service Water Heaters offers after-hours services for these urgent situations. We’ll talk you through your water heater emergency and determine if we need to send out one of our technicians right away.
Preventing Water Heater Emergencies
You can prevent these urgent water heater problems from occurring with regular maintenance. Water heaters should be flushed out once a year to prevent sediment buildup. You can also schedule a tune-up for your water heater with an At Your Service technician. We’ll make sure everything works properly and inform you of any issues.
Don’t let a faulty water heater ruin your daily life. Know the signs of a malfunctioning heater, call the experts when you need to, and take steps to prevent emergencies from happening.
