Water heaters can last for eight to ten years; the right time to replace a water heater is in the 10th year. Don’t wait until your water heater fails before you take action. Most of the people cannot live without hot water and therefore, you need to take good care of it well. You need to know how the water heater works so that when a slight thing changes you can understand that there is a problem, the following are some of the signs that indicate that your water heater is going out knowing them is good because the soon they happen the better the situation you will save.
Multiple Signs on Hot Water Heater Going Out
Discolored or Gritty water
If you notice that the water coming out from your heater is muddy, there is a possibility that the anode ride in the water heater is destroyed and cannot perform its function of protecting the tank. The tank begins to corrode, and the corroded material causes the water in the tank to be muddy if you don’t want your tank to damage you need to change the sacrificial anode.
Bad smell in the hot water
This unusual smell occurs when the tank is corroded; sometimes it the hot water can also have a bad taste. The taste can be metallic while the scent can be the same as that of a rotten egg. When this happens, you are required to clean the water heater and replace the nodes.
The age of your water heater
There is nothing that lasts forever; you will have to replace your water heater at some point simply because it is ancient and doesn’t work effectively anymore. Water heaters should be checked to see if it’s too early because some of them have a life span that does not exceed 15 years. A water heater lasts longer depending on how it is maintained; it’s necessary to check if the water heater is aging, and this should be done by a professional plumber. If you notice that it is not working well, consider replacing it as soon as possible.
Insufficient hot water
If you notice that there is little hot water coming out, be sure that the water heater is about to damage or fail. This problem occurs when the sediment takes up the water space, or the sediment has created a barrier, thus preventing the heat from the heating element, and the end of the water produced in the shower is boiling.
Sounds from your water heater
Most of the water heaters do not make any noise because they are designed, and when it begins to produce some noises that were not there earlier, that is a clear indication that something is wrong with your water heater. This noise is heard when air is trapped within the sediments in the tank, and those sounds that you hear occur when the water heats and the air escape hence producing the sounds.
Leaking TPR valve
TPR simply means temperature and pressure relief; this is something very important in the water heater. Its purpose is to activate the pressure or temperature inside the tank when it rises to a very dangerous level. TPR should be tested now, and when to ensure that it is working properly; if there is no water flowing out when the valve is open or if there is a leakage below the valve, that is the right time to call a plumber.
The tank leaks
When you notice the tank leaking, it is simply because of not replacing the anode and poor maintenance. Consult a plumber to help you with this; he should check whether the drain valve is leaking and if it is okay, just buy another water heater because a leaking tank can never be repaired.
These are some of the many signs indicating that your water heater is going out, and whenever you notice any of them, you need to do the necessary according to the problem you are tackling. A big family will require a big water heater because a small one will not meet the demands of everyone’s needs. Take care of your heater the same way you are taking care of other household properties, see people will not even take time to check on the tanks simply because they assume it’s fine until when it is in the worst situation that’s when they start running up and down for help, that is wrong take good care of your water heater if you want good service.