Your home’s water heater keeps you and your loved ones safe and comfortable by delivering fresh, clean, hot water to your faucets every day. When a problem arises with your home water heater, you’ll want to know as soon as possible to prevent further damage and have the issue resolved quickly.
Here are four signs of a water heater in distress that you’ll want to be aware of:
• Changes in temperature: If you experience your home’s water fluctuating in temperature dramatically, this may be an indication of your water heater needing repair. An issue like this usually occurs when there are mineral deposits covering the heating elements in your water heater.
• Odd appearance: Shifts in your water’s color, especially developments like brown, rusty hues or particles, could point to your water heater needing inspection and repair. Typically, your home’s water should be translucent — if you have high water pressure, it may be cloudy at first but settle to become clear after the pressure balances.
• Little or no hot water: A home water heater that produces no hot water or small amounts is not only inconvenient, but also an indication of a possible repair needed. Usually, if your home water heater’s circuit, water heating elements, pilot light, or ignitor isn’t functioning properly, this develops into a lack of hot water in your home.
• Unusual sounds: If you’re able to hear crackling, screeching, or popping noises coming from your water heater, this may be cause for concern. If this issue persists, contact your plumber to address this problem.