When you live in a climate like ours, there are bound to be days when a cool shower sounds like a good idea! However, that doesn’t mean you’ll never need hot water. In fact, heated water is vital for a variety of tasks in the home, and not having regular access to it can be quite frustrating, if not debilitating for your home. So what should you do if you notice any troubling symptoms coming from it?
Well, give us a call! We will inspect your system to determine what’s going on and what kind of repair is needed. In the case of an older water heater, we might even recommend a replacement. But you won’t know until you contact our team. Of course, this also means you need to understand what a troubling water heater symptom is. Read on as we uncover some of the signs you should be aware of that your water heater is struggling.
Strange Sounds During System Operation
When your hot water heater is in use, see if you notice whether or not it’s making any new noises. No water heater is silent, and you’re always bound to hear some noise coming from it, but if you hear a rattle you’ve never detected for, or anything else that seems suspicious, it might be cause for alarm.
For example, you might have a high amount of sediment buildup due to hard water–that is, water with a high level of minerals in it. These minerals typically consist of calcium and magnesium, as well as iron–harmless to us to ingest but not so great for your plumbing system, including your water heater. Anyway, this sediment buildup will typically cause a rattling, or “rumbling” noise in your tank as it operates. This might seem harmless, but that sediment can block the heat exchangers from doing their job, and start to corrode the lining of your water heater tank.
It Takes Longer to Get Hot Water
Have you noticed that in certain areas of your home, it seems to be taking longer and longer for the water to turn hot when you turn on the tap? Or maybe you start the washing machine and the water coming out doesn’t seem as hot as it used to be. A water heater that is in disrepair may take longer to provide hot water than one that’s in great shape.
Your energy bills can tell you a story about your home comfort systems. If you notice that your energy bills have spiked and are far higher than they were this time last year, it could be your water heater to blame. Your HVAC systems actually use up the most power, on average, in your home. But the second in line for being a power drainer is your water heater. So if you’ve noticed your bills have spiked, but nothing is amiss with your HVAC systems, then the next place to look is your water heater. Fortunately for you, our technicians handle all these systems, so we can inspect both your HVAC units and your water heater. But be sure to call us ASAP so the problem doesn’t have a chance to get worse and lead to a breakdown.