If you’ve found yourself asking the question posed in the title, chances are you’re a little stressed right now. Maybe your water heater is showing a symptom that you’ve never seen or heard before, and it has you concerned that your household is about to be without the water you use for bathing, showering, cooking, and cleaning.
The water heater is, after all, the unsung hero of any given home. It goes under a lot of strain, being used 24/7, 365 days a year. In fact, it’s one of those home comfort systems that’s easy to take for granted … until something goes wrong with it.
And that’s the thing: you can’t expect your water heater to work flawlessly throughout its entire lifespan. Eventually, your water heater will need repairs, and then hopefully even later down the line it will need to be replaced—no home comfort system lasts forever!
Read on to see if you recognize any of the following water heater symptoms, and learn what they mean for your water heater. Then give us a call if you discover that yes, in fact, your water heater is likely about to fail.
There’s Been a Decline in Hot Water Volume
Have members of your household been complaining that their morning showers are lukewarm, or just plain cold? Has this ever been a problem before? If it’s an old issue, then chances are you never had the right-sized water heater to begin with, and you may want to consider an upgrade.
If it’s a new issue, however, it’s definitely a sign something is amiss. You may have a problem with the heating elements, and in a newer water heater or at least in one that is well-maintained, this can be a repairable issue. But you still want to give our plumbers a call right away!
Discolored or Cloudy Water
Sometimes, this can mean that there is too much sediment buildup in the tank of your water heater. This sediment comes from hard water and is a build-up of minerals that occur as a result—including magnesium, calcium, and iron. This is harmless to ingest, but bad for your plumbing, and definitely a sign that your water heater needs service—likely flushing.
If that discoloration is reddish or brown, however, it’s a sign that there is rust or corrosion occurring within the tank or the lines that are attached to the tank. This is signaling an immediate need for service, and it’s time to give our team a call!
Rumbling Noises from Inside the Tank
The noise can sound alarming—is your water heater about to explode? Probably not, but this is a sign that you need to call our plumbers.
Remember that sediment buildup we just mentioned? This collects on the bottom of the water heater tank and shuffles around as your heating elements heat up the water in the tank. If you’re hearing this noise, it means there is enough sediment in the tank that it could start to coat the heating elements, which will lead to other problems for your water heater.
Whether the symptom concerning you showed up in this post or not, the best thing you can do if you’re wondering about the fate of your water heater is to give our team a call ASAP.
When you need an emergency plumber in Waterford, reach out to AllTech Services, Inc. Contact us today!