Many homeowners call us when they experience a water heater failure resulting in significant water damage to their home and belongings. In many instances, these catastrophes can be avoided if you know the subtle signs that your water heater is about to fail.
Age:
We recommend that homeowners consider replacing their water heater if it is more than 10 years old, especially if it is located in an area where it could cause damage if a leak should develop. If your water heater is not likely to cause damage if it should start leaking, you may be able to postpone replacing it for a while, but you are tempting fate by waiting.
You can determine the age of your water heater by looking at the sticker located toward the top of the unit. The sticker will bear a serial number that will indicate the date of manufacture, such as F072045612. F is the sixth letter of the alphabet and represents June, which is the sixth month of the year. The following two digits indicate the year. This means that a water heater with the serial number F072045612 was manufactured in February of 2007. The date codes can vary somewhat between manufacturers, so you should consult the manufacturer’s website for more information.
Rusty Water:
If you have rusty water that only comes out of your pipes when your run hot water, your water heater may be rusting internally and may begin to leak. You can determine if the rust is coming from the water heater or your pipes by draining several buckets of hot water from your water heater. If the water is still rusty after about three five-gallon buckets, the problem is most likely your water heater.
Strange Noises:
Over time, sediment can collect in the bottom of your water heater and start to harden. This will cause a rattling or banging sound each time the water heater heats up. Not only will this decrease the efficiency of your water heater, but it will also increase the wear and tear on the tank. Eventually, the metal can crack or develop tiny holes.
Moisture:
Minute cracks in the tank can expand as the water inside heats up, which can allow tiny trickles of water to collect around the base of the tank. These leaks are often tricky to spot since the cracks can close once the tank cools. It is also important to check the temperature/pressure overflow pipe and other fittings to ensure that they are not leaking.
Finally, even if your water heater still functions, you should consider replacing it if your family’s demand for hot water has increased. A larger water heater will ensure that you have plenty of hot water, and it will last longer since it will not have to work as hard to meet the demand.
