There are many warning signs when your water heater is on the verge of death. In this blog, we’ll run through the signs that you need a new water heater, and when you should give our team a call for service.
#1. Your water heater is no longer keeping up with demand
As a water heater gets up there in age, sediment and rust can collect at the bottom of the tank. At first, this damage is not really noticeable. But, left unchecked, this can start to limit the space that water has in the tank, limiting the amount of hot water available to you and your family.
If you’ve started running out of hot water recently whereas you didn’t before when the system was new, it might be time to consider contacting Reimer for water heater replacement. At the same time, you can consider having us install a new tankless system that provides you and your family with endless hot water.
#2. The water isn’t as hot as it once was
Over time, water heaters are less and less effective at heating water, which results in lukewarm water where there was once steaming-hot water.
This causes a number of impacts throughout your home. Your laundry will be less effective at cleaning your clothes. Your dishwasher will be less effective at cleaning your dishes. And, finally, those winter showers are about to get chillier and chillier.
If you’ve noticed a discernible drop in your water temperature over the years, it’s a sign that your water heater might need to be replaced in the near future.
#3. There’s rust-colored water coming out of the faucet
Your water heater contains a sacrificial anode rod. This rod attracts all the rust in the system, preventing the tank walls from rusting. However, after this rod is completely rusted and spent, the rust will begin to impact the tank walls and collect at the bottom of the tank. You may first see rust-colored water coming out of your tap.
Older homes with pipes can also rust, but there’s an easy way to determine where the problem is: run both the cold and hot tap in sequence. If both are rust-colored, it’s either your pipes or something else. If only the hot tap is rust-colored, it’s most likely your water heater, and it’s time to call Reimer.
If it’s early in your system’s lifespan and the damage is limited (see information below), Reimer can replace the sacrificial anode rod in your system. However, by the time that rod is typically used up and the homeowner notices, it’s often too late for the tank itself.
#4. Your tank is either leaking or has fractures
If this is the case, contact Reimer immediately. A water heater is an compromised tank is a water heater at risk of bursting, which could send water flooding into your home. It’s not a good situation.
Over time, after the anode rod is spent, rust gets through the glass liner inside the tank to the tank’s exterior. As this rusts, it weakens the overall structure of the system.
The problems typically manifest first in the tiniest of cracks—little fractures in the tank shell. Eventually, if left untreated, you may then see water pooling at the base of the unit, or beading on the outside. This is a sure sign that your water heater is done. It’s one of the most pressing signs you need a new water heater.
If you’re seeing signs you need a new water heater, give Reimer a call
If you’ve noticed any of the four signs listed above, it’s time to contact Reimer for water heater services. Give us a call at (716) 272-2371.
