It’s easy to ignore your water heater when it is largely out of sight and out of mind. But it is important to pay attention to signs that something is wrong so that you can address problems sooner rather than later.
Keep reading to learn more about the ways that you can identify water heater problems early, and then give our team a call to schedule your appointment for water heater repair in Folsom, CA. Taking care of this important system in your home will pay off for years to come.
Unusual Sounds
Your water heater is not going to be completely silent when it operates. You will likely hear water flow moving in and out of the tank. But if you hear popping noises or if anything else is out of the ordinary, it’s better to call for service and be safe than to potentially ignore a major concern.
Popping can indicate that there is mineral buildup from hard water in the tank. The tank needs to be flushed out so these minerals don’t corrode the inside of the tank and lead to rust. Other problematic sounds are whistling or screeching which can indicate water is moving through a tight space due to a blockage.
The pressure valves may be releasing, which is exactly what they are made for. However, their activation means that too much pressure is building up inside the water heater. Whatever is causing the increased pressure needs to be fixed.
Lack of Hot Water
It may seem obvious that a lack of hot water is a problem with your water heater–and it is obvious if there is no hot water at all. But sometimes a lack of hot water may instead mean that the normal water temperature is lower than you are used to, but still warm. You may be tempted to set the thermostat a little higher in an attempt to heat the water up more if this happens.
But you should not have to do this if your water heater is operating effectively. If you’re concerned about the water temperature, schedule a service appointment. It’s possible that the mineral buildup we mentioned above is blocking the heating element and preventing it from increasing the temperature of your water enough or that the heating element itself is malfunctioning.
Leaks
Your water heater should not ever leak. If it does, air is also getting into the system and negatively impacting the pressurization. Your hot water tank is more likely to corrode inside if there is an active leak. Plus, leaks can cause rust to exterior components.
It’s fairly easy for us to replace connections and valves if they rust. But if we don’t catch the problem early enough and rust spreads to the inside of your tank, that cannot be reversed. Instead, you’ll have to invest in a new water heater.
Discoloration
And speaking of corrosion, if your water has a dirty or orange tint to it, rust is the likely culprit. If you notice that your water is discolored, you first want to determine whether or not your water heater is the reason. If both your cold and hot water are discolored, you have a completely different problem. But if the cold water is clear and the hot water is discolored, your water heater is likely the reason.
Contact Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc. today to schedule water heater services. You can always trust The Guys in the Big Red Trucks.