The humble water heater is one our most important home systems. Who doesn’t love a nice, hot shower? However, it can be easy to forget about the water heater and miss telltale signs that it needs repairing or replacing. Here’s what you should be watching for.
The shower is cold or takes a while to warm up
This is the most obvious sign that your water heater is past its use-by date – if the water isn’t hot, the heater isn’t doing its job! Similarly, you can bank on your heater needing a tune-up or replacing if you have to wait an age for water to heat up.
The shower water is dirty
Failing water heaters collect a buildup of sediment. If the water coming out of the shower looks rusty or dirty, your water heater is the likely culprit. Check your heater’s tank often for grime. If there’s a lot, you may need a new heater.
Your water tank is very old
On average, a water heater lasts for around 10 years and should be replaced after this mark. Any older and failure is likely to occur. If you’re unsure of how old yours is, look through initial paperwork to find the installation date.
Water is pooling around the base of the water heater
Water around the base of your water heater means it’s time to get a new one. Pooled water is the result of a fracture in the heater’s inner tank that is allowing a leak. A leaky tank needs replacing immediately.
If you think your water tank needs replacing or repairing, call Curran Plumbing today.
