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4 Telltale Signs of Hot Water Heater Failure

No hot water? Your electric hot water heater may be on the fritz! There are several reasons why this could happen, and several signs you may have missed. Call Anta Plumbing to come to repair your hot water heater, and read this post while you wait so that you can avoid the same issue in the future.

Most people don't know the signs that a hot water heater is busy packing up. However, there are some tell-tale signs along the way, apart from water running down the passage or from under the garage. Avoid damage and disruption by learning the signs that your water heater is failing.

1. It is old

If your hot water heater has been around in your house for longer than you have, you may not know how old it is. Hot water heaters last only so long, and if it has not been serviced regularly, its lifespan will be affected.

You can determine the age of your water heater by looking at the serial number. For instance, if the code is F0106266345. you can deduce that the 01 depicts the year (2001). The F is for the month (F = 06 month, which is June). Therefore, the water heater was made in June 2005. If your water heater is older than 10 years, you should consider a replacement.

2. Discolored water

If only your hot water is discolored or rusty, that's usually a sign that there's rust inside your water heater. Rust will cause it to leak soon.

However, if you have galvanized piping, it could be the pipes that are rusty. You can test it by letting the water run for 2-3 minutes. If it doesn't return to normal, it is likely the water heater, rather than the piping that is at fault.

3. Strange noises

Over time sediment builds up on the inside of the tank, sinking to the bottom of the element. When heated, and reheated, the sediment hardens, resulting in minimized efficiency, which means that it requires more energy to heat your water. The increased time spent heating, will result in increased wear on the metal tank, which causes the metal to become brittle. It will develop small holes and it can even crack. If you hear banging or rattling sounds from your water heater, it is a good time to look for small leaks, and if you find them, consider replacing the water heater.

4. Moisture in the area of the heater

Moisture around the water heater may indicate a small leak or crack in the tank. When metal heats, it expands and forms slight cracks that may cause water to leak from the tank. The inner tank will stop leaking when the metal has cooled down. But before you rush out to replace your water heater, first check to make sure there aren't any leaks from any connections to the tank or the fittings, such as the pressure or temperature overflow pipe. If the other fittings and connections are dry, you may need to replace the water heater.

If you notice any of these or other signs of potential water heater failure, please call Anta Plumbing right away. We will come to your home and troubleshoot to find out whether you need to replace your hot water heater.

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Written by Anta

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