Signs Your Water Heater Is About to Fail
Don’t wait for a catastrophe: Be alert for these indicators that your water heater is about to fail.
1. Your water heater is too old
The majority of water heaters last between eight and ten years. While ten is the age at which heater replacement is generally recommended, the actual need to replace a heater could arise before or after this timeline. Also, not all water heaters have a life expectancy of up to ten years. The main exception is gas water heaters, which generally only last between six and eight years.
2. Rusty water
If you discover rusty water coming from your water heater and it only comes from the hot side piping in your home, this can be a sign that your water heater is rusting away on the inside and it may begin to leak soon.
3. Rumbling and noise
As a the system ages, sediment will build up on the bottom of the tank. As the sediment is heated and reheated, it eventually will harden. When this happens, you can often hear rumbling or banging sounds coming from the water heater as it is heating up. This is a sign that the water heater is at the end of its useful life and losing its efficiency as the heater will have to use more gas or electricity to heat the water..
4. Water around the water heater
Water leaks are often the result of expansions to the metal in the tank. These expansions occur over time as the inner–body of the tank is exposed to thousands upon thousands of heating cycles.
Contact us at Total Mechanical Systems at 860-314-1518 if you suspect any issues are going on with your hot water heater – we’ll take care of everything ASAP!
