Your home’s water heater is the most expensive component of your plumbing system. Checking for simple problems can prevent you from experiencing large repair setbacks further down the road. It can also help you determine if you need a new water heater.

The typical signs that you need a new water heater include:

  1. Age of the water heater
  2. Hot water capacity
  3. Temperature problems
  4. Noise problems
  5. Rusty water
  6. Water leaks

If you experience any of the following issues, or have questions about your water heater, call Mike Wilson Plumbing at (804) 641-6570 or visit www.mikewilsonplumbing.com. You can talk to us to get expert water heater advice, installation and repair in Midlothian and Chesterfield, VA.

Check the Age of Your Water Heater

 Your water heater should have a sticker on it with its install date. Most residential water heaters come with a 5 or 10-year warranty. A new water heater should last at least that long. If you purchased an older home with an aging water heater, even common problems could be a warning that it’s time to replace it. A water heater that is more than 20 years old has probably reached the end of its life. It’s at this point that you may notice that it will start making noises, failing to produce hot water, failing to maintain a constant water temperature or failing to produce hot water consistently.

Usage and Water Quality

If you live in an area with hard water, mineral buildup inside the tank can limit your water heater’s capacity and can impact the lifespan of your water heater. When a shower starts out at the right temperature but quickly becomes tepid after a few minutes, it’s a sign that the water heater’s capacity has diminished. The key fact here is whether the water gets up to the right temperature to begin with. If it does but it dwindles quickly, it’s a capacity problem. If it never gets up to the right temperature, that could be another problem.

Temperature Problems

If you experience lukewarm water or your water is getting too hot, fixing the problem usually involves adjusting the thermostat on the unit. For most homeowners, the ideal temperature for hot water is between 120 to 140 degrees.

If there is no hot water coming from your water heater tank, you could have a broken heating element. If you have a water heater powered by natural gas, you could have a broken gas thermocouple. To replace any of these water heater parts, we recommend that you always consult your local Midlothian plumber.

Noise Problems

Water heaters can bang, knock, creak and whine. These noises can be caused by sediment that builds up inside the water tank. The debris comes in contact with the heating element, which makes loud noises as it burns the sediment away.

Flushing the tank usually corrects the issue. You will typically need an experienced plumber to do this correctly. At the very least, you should call a professional for advice on the proper way to do this.

Another issue that may be causing loud noise in your water heater may be the burning out of the heating element. If the water heater has been flushed out and the sediment has been removed, but strange noises persist, it could be time to replace the heating element.

Rusty Water

You’ve probably learned from fourth grade science that water plus metal equals rust. When it comes to a water heater tank, the whole thing is made out of metal and it’s meant to hold water. There’s no getting around water and metal coming together here! To prevent you from drinking rusty water, your water heater tank has a sacrificial anode rod that is designed to rust away so that the tank won’t have any rust at all. If you start noticing rusty water, it could be a sign that your water heater’s anode rod is all used up and needs replacement.

Leaking

 Metal expands and contracts over time. If your water heater is near the end of its lifespan, it’s very likely that it may start leaking. There is no easy or quick fix for a leaking hot water tank. If you have noticed standing water anywhere near the unit, you should call a professional residential plumber like Mike Wilson Plumbing, immediately! You will need to replace the tank as soon as possible to prevent further damage and flooding to your home or garage.

 

For any and all other water heater concerns, call Mike Wilson, a Midlothian, Chesterfield and Richmond, VA professional plumber.