Winters can be hard to endure without running hot water in our homes. It is hard to imagine how people survived without a water heater in the olden days. When your water heater stops working properly, it can disrupt your entire household’s routine. So, it is important to take care of its maintenance and watch out for warning signals that indicate something is wrong. Timely intervention can prevent a complete breakdown and save you a lot of money and hassle. Here are some water heater problems you should never ignore and call up a repair technician right away.
Water Heater Problems That Need Timely Intervention
Lack of sufficient hot water
If your shower water is not adequately warm or it takes a long time before you get hot water from the top, it could be a sign of a problem. Quite often, we ignore this problem till we stop getting hot water altogether. However, the sooner you act, the easier it is to rectify the problem. Usually, this problem occurs due to the build-up of minerals at the bottom of the storage tank, which creates a barrier between the water and the heater and less heat reaches the water. As the sediment keeps building up, the heater will eventually fail. To prevent this problem, annual flushing of the heater is recommended.
Circuit breaker trips frequently
It is common for the water heater to trip a circuit breaker in event of a power surge. However, when the circuit breaker trips frequently there could be a problem with the heating element, the wiring, or the thermostat. When your thermostat is improperly installed or faulty, it loses communication with the circuit breaker, which in turn can cause an electrical imbalance of power. In some cases, the heating element may burn out or break and cause a spit in parts of the heater. This can expose wires and other electrical components to direct contact with water. There are several other issues that can cause continuous tripping. Never ignore this problem and call your repair technician right away.
Strange noises
Weird noises coming from your water heater are a common sign of a failing water heater. If your water heater is making rumbling, popping, or creaking noises, you should call your heater repair technician. The noises are often due to sediment build-up in the water heater. Tank flushing could solve the problem, but if the noise continues even after that, the problem could be more serious and you may have to replace the tank.
Bad odor
If you are getting a rotten egg-like smell from your water heater, it could be due to sulfur bacteria in your water supply. It can also be due to sulfur-containing chemical reactions in your water supply. If the smell only comes from the hot water, then the reaction is likely happening inside the heater. Musty, dirt-like, and sewage odors are also normally due to issues with water supply or plumbing. In case you smell gasoline or petroleum, it is a cause of serious concern. It could indicate a leaking fuel tank, which can prove very dangerous. When this happens, call in a professional right away.
Leaks
Water heater storage tanks have temperature and pressure relief valves. If water is leaking from the water heater, it could indicate that the valve is faulty and is unable to handle the pressure and heat. If the valve continues to malfunction for a prolonged period, it can cause the water heater to explode. So, it is not a problem you can afford to ignore.
Is your water heater showing any of these signs? Call us now to schedule an inspection and repair.
