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Most water heaters give plenty of warning before they fail. The trick is knowing what you’re hearing, seeing and feeling at the tap.
1. You’re running out of hot water faster
If showers that used to last now go cold halfway through, sediment may be taking up room in the bottom of the tank, or a heating element may be failing.
2. Popping or rumbling from the tank
That noise is usually water trapped under a layer of sediment and boiling through it. It makes the heater work harder and can shorten its life.
3. Rusty or cloudy hot water
Discolored hot water can point to corrosion inside the tank. If only the hot side looks off, the water heater is the likely source.
4. Water around the base
Any moisture around the tank deserves a look. Sometimes it’s a fitting or the relief valve. Sometimes it’s the tank itself, which can’t be repaired.
5. It’s been a long time
Age alone isn’t a reason to replace a heater that’s working, but an older unit showing any of these signs is worth planning around before it fails on a holiday weekend.
6. The pilot or burner keeps acting up
On gas units, a pilot that won’t stay lit or a burner with a yellow flame should be checked promptly.
What to do next
If you see water around the tank, turn off the heater’s power or gas and close its cold-water supply, then call or text us. For anything else, request a water heater appointment and we’ll explain what we find and your options before any work starts.