Signs You’re in Need of Water Heater Repair | Brookhaven, GA
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When all goes well, your water heater isn’t something that you spend much time worrying about. Whether you’ve got a traditional tank or a tankless water heater, the only times you’re likely to think about your water heating element is when you’re in need of a water heater repair because something has gone wrong.
Unfortunately, because you likely don’t spend much time thinking about the water heater at your Brookhaven, GA home, you’re probably going to run into serious problems with the water heater if you don’t know how to recognize the signs of a major issue. Luckily, as with most plumbing problems, knowing the signs isn’t hard when you know what you’re looking for, and a bit of early recognition and a quick call to a plumbing expert can save you hundreds in repairs to your home.
If you spot any of these issues, it’s time to call someone for water heater repair before things get worse.
Inconsistent Water Temperatures
It’s normal for your hot water to take a minute or two to heat up, especially if you’ve got a tankless model for your water heater. That’s because a tankless water heater isn’t constantly on, only providing heat when it gets a signal that hot water is needed somewhere in your plumbing system. But if your water is sometimes coming out hot, sometimes coming in lukewarm and sometimes not heating up at all, then you’re probably going to need to speak with a water heater expert.
That’s because this is a common sign that some of the elements of your water heater are failing, especially if you’ve got the traditional tank installed. With a water heater tank, mineral deposits can start to block certain parts of the system as the inside of the tank rusts over time. Once those deposits get in the way, it’s a lot harder for your system to heat water properly and get it where it needs to be, which is why you should consider replacing your tank every decade or so.
If your water heater isn’t close to the end of its expected lifespan, you can usually opt for water heater repair to get the system cleaned out or fix another problem, but if you’ve got an older system, making repairs simply won’t work. However, the only way to be sure is to call in an expert to inspect your system in Brookhaven, GA and decide the best course of action.
Running Out of Hot Water
Your water heater is only designed to keep a certain amount of water heated at a time, so if you’re using a lot of hot water at one time, you’re likely to run out. But if this is happening consistently without any good explanation, you’re likely in need of water heater repair. Just like with inconsistent temperatures, a lack of hot water is usually a sign that something in the tank is blocked and getting in the way of your hot water supply.
Before you call for a plumbing expert, though, it’s a good idea to assess your recent water usage to see if there’s a reason for your lack of hot water. If your teenager just had a few of their friends over and everyone took showers, that’s probably the real reason for your lack of hot water in your home. But if nothing out of the ordinary occurred at your residence in the past few days and you’re still having hot water issues, something isn’t right with the system. Bottom line: unless you’ve got a readily available and plausible explanation, you need to schedule water heater repair as soon as possible.
Rust Visible
Corrosion is going to happen over time, but when it gets to the point where it’s actually visible, that’s when you’ve got a real problem over time. When rust starts to show up on your hot water heater, you’re already in need of water heater repair at your earliest convenience, and if you wait too much longer, you won’t be replacing your water heater at a convenient time.
The solution to this one is easy: go check out the tank every few months. Chances are that you find your way to the basement every couple of months anyway, so all you have to do is make a point to use this trip to check out the tank and make a few observations. If anything doesn’t look the way it should, you can make sure to call a water heater repair expert in Brookhaven, GA and see if their thoughts match your concerns.
Water Pooling Around the Tank
It cannot be said enough: there is no such thing as a small leak when it comes to plumbing, and that includes your water heater. Any leak, at any time and in any place, should always be treated as an emergency situation that requires an expert’s repair at the first possible opportunity.
That’s especially true when it comes to water heater repair because a leak from the tank can cause a lot of problems in a hurry. First, leaking water can find its way to other parts of your water heater, speeding up the corrosion process. Second, a traditional tank uses constant heat to keep water warm, and that heat comes from electricity. You probably don’t need to be told why electricity and leaking water make a bad combination anywhere in your home. Finally, leaking water from the tank isn’t exactly safe around pets or children, and if they find their way to the basement, the situation could become dangerous in a hurry.
At Peach Plumbing & Drain, we’re here to prevent dangerous situations caused by plumbing problems at your home, as well as provide timely repairs that keep damage from getting out of control. If you’re in need of water heater repair to keep hot water where it belongs, give our team a call. We’ll assess the situation and make the right repair as needed!
