Jumping into a hot shower on a cold winter morning should be one of your favorite ways to start off the day. On top of getting all squeaky clean, you also get a brief reprieve from the chilly air. However, if your water heater is broken, those moments of warm bliss won’t be possible. You’ll have to endure cold water if you want to get clean. Unless you’re like the famous actress Katharine Hepburn, who took cold showers every day, hopping into a stream of freezing cold water is a disappointing experience. Thankfully there are signs of a failing hot water heater that you can watch out for before it goes kaput altogether:
- Your water heater is old: Like most appliances in your home, your hot water heater has a finite lifespan. If your hot water heater has never had any leaks or has only required minor repairs, it should be able to last about 10 years. That being said, a water heater that’s had problems over the years is likely to require major hot water heater repair in Grand Rapids, MN—or total replacement—before the 10 years are up. But how do you know its age? The serial code on your hot water heater indicates the month and year it came off the line. Visit your manufacturer’s website to find out what your serial code means.
- Rusty water: Reddish-brown water coming from your taps could indicate a variety of problems with your plumbin However, if the water is only rust-colored when you turn on the “hot” faucet, that’s most likely a problem with your water heater. Hot rusty water is a sign that your water heater is rusting from the inside and will probably require hot water heater repair in Grand Rapids, MN very soon. And even if your cold water is rusty, it’s still a good idea to give us a call to inspect your plumbing and fix that problem, too.
- Puddles of water around the heater: Puddles of water anywhere in your home should be concerning. These puddles are an obvious sign of a plumbing issue. Puddles around your water heater indicate a leak somewhere in the system. It could be a sign of a leak around the fittings, in the pipes leading to the unit or an actual leak springing from the tank itself. Regardless of where the water is coming from, you’ll need to call a plumber ASAP.
- Rumbling noises: Your hot water heater should be a quiet unit. If you hear rumbling noises, or see it actually shaking when hot water is running, you’ve got a hot water heater that’s about to need major repairs.
- It takes longer to get hot water: Your water will never be hot as soon as you turn on the faucet; it’ll always take a few seconds to heat up. However, if you notice that it’s taking longer than usual to get hot, you probably have an issue with the hot water heater.
If you have noticed any of the above signs, give Rapids Plumbing & Heating a call as soon as possible before you need emergency hot water heater repair in Grand Rapids, MN. We’re available 24/7 to help with any and all plumbing issues!