What's Wrong with my Water Heater?
Symptoms that could mean your water heater is on its way out
With cold months just around the corner, it’s important to keep an eye on the things that are essential. Hot water helps keep us clean and comfortable during Autumn and Winter, so it is of the utmost importance that you make sure your water heater is functioning properly. Here are some symptoms of a water heater that may be on its way out:
Age – First and foremost, the age of the water heater is a great indicator of whether you should look into replacing it. A typical decent water heater will last between 9 – 12 years. If your curious about how old your water heater is, you can reach out to the manufacturer with the serial number, and they will be able to tell you. If your water heater is 9+ years old, it may be time to look into installing a replacement before it goes out entirely.
Pilot Light Issues – Most water heaters will have pilot light issues here and there. If the pilot light starts going out more frequently you may need to have the gas valve and assembly replaced. However, it’s important to keep in the mind the age of the water heater – if the water heater is much older it can be a waste of money to invest in a new assembly.
Water Leaking from the Tank – There are several places your hot water heater could be leaking from including: The top inlet and outlet valves, loose T & P valves, corrosion on the anode rod or just the tank itself. Many of these can be fixed with the proper tools and parts, however, if your tank is leaking or if your water heater is more than 10 years old you should have it replaced.
Running out of Hot Water Quickly – Various reasons can cause you to receive less hot water:
· Sediment build-up: When water is heated in the tank it releases dissolved minerals as precipitate and this debris is deposited onto the bottom of the tank. As more minerals get deposited in the tank there is less room for hot water to be stored for future use.
o Signs of sediment build up include: sediment that’s visible in the water that comes out of the heater, Knocking, Cracking or Popping sounds and hissing and/or leaking from the TPR valve.
· A damaged lower heating element in the water heater: This element is what creates most of the hot water. The top heating element only turns on periodically to maintain the hot water at a consistent temperature. When the lower heater is damaged the amount of hot water will decrease dramatically.
· Broken Dip Tube: A dip tube is necessary to push cold water to the bottom of the heater to be heated before circulating to the top. If the dip tube is broken this will allow for the cold water to mix with the heated water so the overall temperature will drop.
Inconsistent Water Temperature in the Shower – This can be caused by the Dip Tube for the same reasons as noted above. Sometimes the Dip Tube can become cracked, corroded, or develop holes that allow the incoming cold water to mix with the heated water. Although Dip Tubes are replaceable, if your water heater is older than a decade, it is recommended that you have it replaced entirely.
Discolored Water coming from Faucets – There are a myriad of reasons that you may be getting discolored water. It could be caused by rusty/corroded pipes – older houses have galvanized pipes that corrode as they age. Now, copper piping is installed to prevent this from happening. If the discolored water occurs only when you are using hot water, the source could be your water heater. As mentioned previously, water heaters build up sediment in the bottom of the heater that can result in brown or discolored water. Sometimes this can be fixed by performing a flush on the water heater. To do so, water needs to be drained from the heater and then “flushed” through it to remove the collected sediment and minerals. A flush such as this should be performed once a year to prolong the life of the water heater. If your water heater has not been regularly flushed the build up can be substantial and lead to replacing the water heater.
Unusual Noises coming from the Water Heater – As with the previously listed issues, the water heater could be making strange noises due to the sediment buildup. This can cause a “popping” sound to happen with your water heater. If your water heater is making a different noise, it could be caused by the following:
· Ticking Noise: Fluctuations in the water pressure.
· Ticking Noise: Loose pipe straps. This can be remedied by putting plastic spacers between the pipes, and the straps.
· Sizzling Noise: Water may be leaking from the tank and sizzling on the burner assembly.
Lower Water Pressure – Low water pressure can be caused by a variety of different reasons, one of them being the sediment that’s built up inside the water heater. This can be prevented by annually rinsing your tank to keep the sediment levels under control. Another source of low water pressure that can stem from your water heater can be caused by the shut off valve.
If you are experiencing any of the listed symptoms in your home and would like to have a technician diagnose your situation, please give us a call: 415-462-5858