Signs Your Hot Water Tank Needs Repair or Replacement

When school begins and you start to make your way toward the end-of-year holidays, the last thing you want to do is deal with a water tank malfunction. While you're scheduling your annual HVAC and air quality checkup with your local contractor, it's a great time to get your water heater looked at as well.

How can you tell whether your water heater might be in need of repair or replacement? Look for these signs that something might be amiss.

No Hot Water

Only getting cold water from your tap is perhaps the most obvious sign that you have a water tank malfunction on your hands and is reason enough to call a professional electrician or plumber. A simple readjustment of your thermostat might fix the issue, but a lack of hot water pipes could also mean that the heating element connected to your water tank isn't doing its job anymore.

Sandy, Murky, or Rusty Water

Over time, sediment builds up inside your water tank, which can get into the water that flows from your faucets. If your water is anything but clear, you need a home services specialist to inspect your water heater.

Even if you don't see visible discoloration or sediment, when your water has a weird taste or strange smell, it's worth getting checked out.

Strange Sounds

The hot water tank in the basement has been the cause of many suspected hauntings over the years by gullible or superstitious homeowners. However, if your water heater is making spookier-than-normal noises, it's time to call in some help.

While contaminated sediments can be harmful, most normal drinking water has low levels of safe-to-drink sediments. When sediment in your water tank builds up over time, though, these sediments grow in size and harden. This buildup causes louder-than-usual sounds in your water heater.

Leaking Water Heater

This usually happens at the end of a water heater's lifespan. The metal in the tank has warped because of how often the water heats and cools in the tank, and this causes faults in the bottom of the tank along the seams.

While only rare cases lead to a fully flooded basement, you will see some water surrounding the bottom of the tank. Rust on the tank is also a sure sign of imminent water heater failure.

Can't Remember Last Service

Water heaters tend to last about 15 years (or 20 years if you have a tankless water heater), and they should be serviced about once annually. If you can't remember the last time you had your contractor look at your water heater, it's overdue for a checkup.

Let Us Help With Your Water Tank Malfunction

The next time you experience one of these issues with your water heater, call a professional to check it out right away. While no one likes to deal with repairs, it's better than experiencing a full water heater failure.

As a family-owned business, we understand that when have a water tank malfunction, you need help ASAP. Our 24-hour emergency service is ready to respond to your call, and we won't quit until you get the service you need. There's a reason we're the only Lennox Premier dealer in the MD of Foothills!

Call G.M. Mechanical today to set up your water heater repair appointment!