There is perhaps no appliance in your home quite as important as your water heater—it’s responsible for making sure that your dishes in the dishwasher get clean, your laundry is done, and you won’t have to take a cold shower. The worst time to realize that your water heater has a problem is when it stops working completely, so here are a few signs you can be on the lookout for that might indicate a problem. If you see any of these signs, call a plumbing contractor in Utah right away to come and repair it.
1: It’s Getting Older
This isn’t a sign that you can see, but if you know that your water heater is more than 10 or 15 years old, it’s a good idea to have it checked at least once a year by plumbing contractors. They can look for internal signs of corrosion, mineral buildup, or other problems and make some basic repairs that can extend the useful life of your appliance. They can also give you an estimate of when you might need to replace it so you can prepare for that financially.
2: There’s No Hot Water
This one probably seems pretty obvious, but it’s a sure sign there is something wrong. Before you call the plumbers to repair it, though, check to make sure that your water heater has power, the pilot light is one, and the circuit breakers aren’t tripped. If all these things are working fine, call a plumber to inspect the water heater.
3: Rust-Colored or Muddy Water
If the water coming from your faucet is a rusty color (when you have the hot water on) or you see increased signs of sediment such as mud or sand in the water tank, these are both potential signs that your water heater could be experiencing problems and is imminently in need of repair. Even if you’re not sure, the best option is to call a plumber in Salt Lake City and have them come check your water heater.
4: Strange Noises
As with any appliance in your home, if you can hear your water heater making strange noises, that’s usually not a good sign. It’s important to pay attention to the normal sounds of your water heater so you will know if something is wrong, but generally speaking a normally-functioning water heater will make minimal noise while it’s heating the water, so noises like loud pops, bangs, whines, or cracks usually mean there is some kind of reaction between the heating elements inside and the deposits that have built up over time.
5: Leaks
This might seem obvious as well, but if you see leaking water coming from the water heater, call a plumber immediately. Trying to repair a leaking water heater tank on your own can be dangerous, and could lead to flooding or other problems, so it’s best to leave these types of repairs to a professional plumber in Davis County.
