Signs Your Water Heater Is Failing

It sure is nice to jump into the shower and enjoy a hot shower, and it can be super frustrating to run out of hot water. A failing water heater may be to blame. There are a number of signs that your water heater is starting to go out, and you need to be able to recognize those signs. Often a simple repair may fix the problem, but you may be in for a replacement as well. It can be hard to know when to replace your water heater, but there are a few signs your water heater is about to give out. 

Noise 

One of the biggest signs that you can notice about your water heater is the noise that it makes. If you start hearing noises coming from your water heater, you know that you at least need to get it checked. Over a long period of time small particles of clay or other debris will settle at the bottom of the heater. The heater then has to heat up the sediment as well as the water. The continual heating and cooling of the sediment will cause it to harden. The extra strain put on the water heater will cause it to go out faster and faster. 

Leaks

When metal heats up it will expand, and when it cools it will shrink back down. This phenomena can also tell you if you have a problem with your water heater. If your water heater is in use and you notice that water starts to puddle by your water heater, then you most likely have a fracture in the water heater. You may even notice that when the water heater is not in use it does not leak. As the metal heats the fracture expands and allows the water to leak from the tank. Any water around the water heater and it is time to get it looked at. 

Inconsistent Heating

When your water heater is going through problems you will notice that your water's heat is not consistent. Often you will notice that the water will not heat, but this is not always the case. If there is a malfunction you could have extremely hot water all the time. Simply having inconsistent water temperature is a very good sign that your water heater is starting to fail. Any changes in the way that your water usually heats up is a cause for at least an inspection. 

If you notice these or other signs, click on this hyperlink or contact local water heater repair technicians.