| “Come on water heater, you can do it!”
That’s you when you’re hoping for enough hot water for your morning shower, even though you haven’t had enough in a week or so. The thing is, you can talk to and encourage it all you want, but when something goes very wrong, there generally are only two solutions: repair or replace.
Here are the most common signs that your water heater needs one or the other.
- Age of System. Your storage tank water heater was designed to last 10 – 12 years, on average. Do you know exactly when yours was installed? If not, check your owner’s manual. Can’t find it? Then jot down the model and serial numbers from the information tag attached to the tank and give us a call. If the system is near or past its average lifespan, this might be the perfect time to replace it.
- Metallic taste and smell. Your hot water should not taste or smell metallic. If it does, it’s a sign the unit is breaking down – the result of grit and flakes from the inner tank combining with water.
- Water temperature. Lukewarm or overly hot water could mean the heating element or control has failed. If adjusting the thermostat doesn’t solve the problem, you have yet another reason to contact us. You see, a failed control can cause the tank to overheat – that’s a problem you truly want to avoid.
- Loud noises. Banging, knocking, and other strange noises stem from internal mineral deposits. This condition results in wasted energy and higher utility bills, plus a reduction in water heater capacity.
- Flooding and water damage. If your water heater is not adjacent to a floor drain, the area around it could flood if your unit should fail. Your insurance policy might cover the damage, but many do not. To avoid that risk, we recommend the installation of a water shut-off valve, one that will shut off the water supply immediately after detecting even a tiny leak.
If talking to your water heater isn’t getting it done, we can – Best Choice Plumbers. Call today so we can get you back to the days of having all the hot water you need. |
