Learning to understand the hints that your water heater is giving you is a lot better than waking up to no hot water in your home. Unfortunately, most homeowners either choose to ignore the telltale signs or do not understand what is causing these odd occurrences. Once you understand how your water heater works, many of the symptoms of an impending failure will make more sense to you and be much more easy to identify. And remember, investing just a few minutes right now could save you from suffering through a cold shower in the future.
What Happens When Water Is Heated
As your water heater does its job and heats water for your home, the minerals in the cold water begin to separate from the heated water. Because these mineral particles are heavy, they sink to the bottom of your water heater. Over time, this build-up accumulates and causes the water heater to become less efficient. This is when you could begin to hear odd clanging or popping sounds coming from your water heater. These sounds DO NOT mean that your water heater is about to explode or is a safety hazard yet. But they do indicate that you would be without hot water very soon. Or that a leak could be in your future as the holding tank on your water heater begins to corrode. When you hear these odd sounds, the best solution is a call to the water heater pros at Gordon AC & Plumbing at (318) 202-9144.
Extending Your Water Heaters Life
As with most mechanical things, a little care and maintenance goes a long way. Draining and cleaning your water heater each year is the best way to avoid massive mineral build up in the holding tank and added wear and tear on the entire unit. It is also a good idea to test the pressure relief valve, drain valve, and shut off for your water heater each year. If you are not able to complete these tasks, a call to (318) 202-9144 is all you need to do. A Gordon AC & Plumbing licensed plumber will take care of the maintenance and let you know if there are any repairs necessary.
Other Important Signs To Recognize
Changes in your hot water can also be excellent indications that your water heater is about to fail or requires service or maintenance. If your hot water is cloudy or has small flecks of sediment in it, then it is time to drain and flush the tank. The mineral build-up is now contaminating your water. Before you notice a change in the visual appearance of your hot water, you might discover an odd taste or smell to the water due to the contamination.
If your hot water pressure has continued to decrease, there could be a few different reasons for concern. The first issue could be that the valve or pipes coming from your water heater are corroded. This build-up would constrict the water flow and cause you to have very poor hot water pressure. Another reason for the reduced water pressure could be an extensive mineral build up in the hot water, which is clogging the aerator screens on your faucets. Both of these issues should be addressed by a professional plumber to ensure that there is no further damage to your water heater, plumbing pipes or fixtures.
Visual Clues
It is a good idea to take a look at your water heater regularly. You should be looking for any indications of leaks at the piping, fittings, or in the holding tank. Also, watch for corrosion build up on the valves, pipes, and walls of the holding tank. Leaks at your water heater can be dangerous because the water is hot and also because there is likely to be electrical service in the area. If you discover any of these issues near your water heater, call (318) 202-9144 to schedule an appointment with a Gordon AC & Plumbing water heater specialist.
Waking us to find that you have no hot water is not a good way to start your day. But this unpleasant surprise can be avoided by regularly inspecting your water heater and understanding the indications that the unit needs service or is about to fail. Never ignore these early warning signs. Because in many cases, a Gordon AC & Plumbing pro and make a very affordable repair and save you both an annoyingly cold shower and a large repair bill. Just call (318) 202-9144 to schedule your appointment for a water heater inspection today.
