4 Signs Your Water Heater May Be on It’s Way Out

If you’re alert to the warning signs, you may be able to avoid the disruption and damage of a failing water heater.

Most homeowners have no idea that their water heater is about to fail. But several signs indicate it’s on it’s way out. If you’re alert to the warning signs, you may be able to avoid the disruption and damage of a failing water heater. Here are four indicators you can watch out for:

The Age of Your Water Heater

It’s essential to know the age of your water heater. If you’re not sure, you can locate the age by looking for the serial number on the manufacturer’s sticker. It is generally located on the upper portion of the water heater.

Within the serial number, you’ll be able to determine the date it was manufactured. Keep in mind, however, that it won’t look the way a date is typically written. Instead, the serial number will have a date code that will look something like “E071052638”.

E refers to the month, and E is the fifth letter in the alphabet, so it represents the fifth month in the year, May. The next two digits of the serial number are 07, which represents the year, 2007. Each manufacturer has similar codes. If you need more information concerning the systems, check their website.

If your water heater is more than ten years old, it may be time to consider getting it replaced. Depending on the location of your water heater, you may decide to wait until it begins to leak, but this can cause other issues, so we do not recommend choosing that route.

Rusty Water Coming Out

If you turn your hot water on and see rusty water coming out, this can be a sign that your water heater is rusting on the inside, and this is an indicator that it may begin leaking soon.

However, it may just be an issue of having rusty pipes, if you have galvanized piping. To avoid replacing a water heater that is still functioning correctly, simply drain a few five-gallon buskets of hot water out of the water heater. If by the third bucket, the water coming out is still rusty, then it is likely an issue with the water heater and not your pipes.

Banging and Rumbling Noises

Sediment builds up on the bottom of a water heater’s tank as it ages. The deposit of sediment will harden after years of being heated and reheated. When this happens, you may hear banging or rumbling noises coming from the water heater as the water is heating up. This layer of hardened sediment makes your water heater less efficient and will eventually cause more damage.

Leaking Water

The fourth indicator your water heater may be going out is if you notice moisture around your water heater. This likely indicates you have a small leak or fracture in the tank. As the metal in the tank heats, it expands, and when there is a slight fracture, water will leak from that crack.

However, before replacing your water heater, for this reason, make sure that the leak isn’t coming from either the connections or fittings to the tank.

Water Heater Repair and Installation

Legion Pro was designed to overcome the common challenges presented in the world of contracting and renovation. With over 30 years of industry experience, we understand that our clients expect quality work done fast, at an affordable price.