3 Signs That You May Need a New Hot Water Heater for Your Home
Posted on: 6 December 2016
A working hot water heater is of course very important for your home; it's never good to overlook signs that you may need a new unit, as your current one may be working but is also slowly breaking down over time. If you don't have it repaired or replaced when this happens, one day you may suddenly be without hot water altogether.
Unfortunately, the signs of needing a new hot water heater often include more than just not having heated water. Note a few of those signs here so you know what to look for with your own home's hot water heater and can get it replaced or repaired as soon as necessary.
Rusty water
If your home's water is rusty or discoloured in any way, it could be contaminated by outside sources including sediment that settles in from broken plumbing pipes or from rusted pipes themselves. However, the inside of your home's hot water heater may also eventually rust, and this can contaminate the water as it sits in the tank. A good way to note if it's the hot water heater and not other contaminants is to check if it's just the hot water that is rusted and not any cold water.
Rumbling noise
Sediment from water often gets extracted as it sits in a hot water heater, so that it then settles at the bottom of the heater and in your plumbing pipes. This sediment doesn't just go away on its own, and when it gets thick enough, you'll hear a rumbling noise as the water runs over the bottom of the tank. In many cases, the tank or the inside liner at least will need to be replaced, as this sediment usually can't be cleaned or removed.
Water is always too hot or just lukewarm
Your hot water heater will have a thermostat and temperature controls to monitor the actual heat of the water, switching on the unit when water is cool and then turning it off once the water reaches a certain temperature. If your home's water is never a consistent temperature or is always too hot, usually this means the wiring that controls the thermostat and the heater is frayed or needs replacing, along with the thermostat itself. The hot water heater may also be cracked or otherwise damaged so that it lets out heat as it works; your water may be warm but not hot when this happens.
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