Your home’s water heater may possibly be the most expensive component of your plumbing system. Keeping this in mind, you want to take care of problems right away if you suspect something is wrong. But how do you know if something’s amiss? Fortunately, many common water heater issues are relatively simple to figure out.
You will, however, want to contact a professional to take care of any repairs you need right away. But what if repairs just aren’t enough? If you have an aging water heater, and it’s experiencing any of the following troubling signs, it may be time to retire your system and replace it with a new one.
Temperature Fluctuations
Let’s say you’ve notice your water is too hot, or maybe it’s not hot enough. Fixing this may be a simple task. You’ll want to make sure that the thermostat is adjusted to the appropriate temperature, somewhere between 120 and 140 degrees. If it is already set correctly, the tank may need to be flushed out since mineral buildup can prevent the water from heating up fully. However, if there’s no hot water coming from your tank at all, you could have a broken heating element, or a failing system.
Odd Noises
Over time, hard-water scale accumulates inside your water heater tank. If you hear noise coming from within your water heater, it could be a sign that this scale has begun to break off. You can have your tank drained and cleaned out, but this problem may continue to return, especially if you have an older system. You may want to consider replacing it all together.
Water Puddles
Have you seen water pooling around your water heater? This is indicative of water leaking from the tank via a leaky pipe or lose valve. If you can’t find any leaky pipes, try tightening the valve and see if that helps. However, if it does not, the problem could be with a faulty valve, obstructed vent, or even a malfunctioning heating element in an aging system.
If you need a water heater replacement in Cedar Falls, IA, give Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. a call today!