Your water heater makes sure you have hot water when and where you want it. However, the fresh water that comes into your home always contains sediment that can shorten the lifespan of your water heater if it’s not controlled. Sediment is especially problematic if you live in a place with hard water, as most Americans do. This is why water heaters are equipped with sacrificial, replaceable anodes that take sediments out of the water. However, these anodes eventually wear out, and sediments can contaminate the water. Here are some ways to know when that’s happening.
Weird Noises From the Water Heater
Appliances that are failing are famous for making weird noises such as rattles, pops, hisses, rumbles, squeaks, and squeals, and a hot water tank is no exception. With a hot water tank, the noise comes from layers of sediment at the bottom. Both the sediment and the air bubbles trapped beneath it make noise when the heating element is turned on.
The Water Is Discolored, Bad-Smelling, and Bad-Tasting
If your water is rust-colored, smells like rotten eggs, or tastes like metal, then that’s a sure sign that your water heater is in trouble. This unpleasantness can come from the sediment itself, the heating element, or the sacrificial anode as it begins to break down. When water is this contaminated, sediments can attack the inside lining of the hot water tank as well as your fresh water pipes and cause them to corrode.
You See Leaks Around the Tank
Another sign that your hot water tank is in trouble is leaking around the temperature and pressure relief valves. When the tank is clogged with sediment, the heating element can get too hot and increase the pressure inside the tank. Eventually, the tank ruptures.
The Temperature of the Water Is Inconsistent
While sediment in your tank can prevent it from delivering any hot water, it can also cause it to take a long time to warm the water to the temperature that you want. This is because a layer of sediment comes between the water and the heating element.
The Heater No Longer Delivers Hot Water
If there’s enough sediment in the tank, it can prevent the water from being heated at all. When this happens, the heater breaks down and may need to be replaced.
Get in Touch With Us if You’re Worried About Your Water Heater
Your water heater is in trouble if it’s making weird noises, producing rust-colored water that tastes of iron, leaking, not making the water as hot as you like, or not making hot water at all. If you detect any of these issues with your water heater, don’t hesitate to call our plumbers at Lesco Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in Caldwell, New Jersey.