Tag: faulty

Signs of a Faulty Water Heater That Needs Service

When to Think About Water Heater Repairs

A home’s water heater is a critical piece of equipment that goes underappreciated until it fails, seemingly out of the blue. Most water heaters show signs before they fail, allowing perceptive homeowners to take preemptive action, like calling for water heater repairs. While some signs are obvious, like leaks or a loss of hot water, others are more subtle, meaning homeowners must stay on their toes. 

Here are three common signs that many homeowners overlook that indicate the need for water heater repairs.

Utility Costs Are Rising

billsUtility costs are always rising. Despite market influences, the price of natural gas and electrical power only seems to worsen. Water heaters already use up to 30% of the energy in the average home, making them expensive to operate. How much worse could the problem be if something went wrong with the water heater?

Monitoring utility bills is a great way to track the water heater’s condition. Since water heaters use so much energy, it can be relatively easy to spot spikes in energy bills. A spreadsheet or utility tracker can be used to monitor water consumption and the energy source used by the water heater. If the two bills correlate higher every month, it is a good sign something is wrong with the water heater. For more correlations, look for things like: 

If these signs are present, along with the rise in bills, water heater repair or a new installation are the best options to get bills back under control. 

Owners Can Hear Strange Sounds

sounds Struggling water heaters often make noises that indicate problems. The trouble is that most people don’t spend enough time near their water heater to know the difference between normal operations and regular noise. Furthermore, a noisy water heater may go undetected simply because no one checks on it. Routinely checking the water heater and scheduling annual water heater maintenance can help find sounds that indicate repairs are needed. Common sounds that indicate abnormal operation are:

  • Thumping
  • Rumbling
  • Whistling
  • Popping
  • Hissing 

If these sounds are heard at any point, a professional should be called to assess the situation. They can recommend whether maintenance, repairs, or replacement are the best actions. 

Unusual Color or Smell to the Water

The final sign of a struggling water heater has to do with the water quality of the hot water coming from the appliances in the home. Hot water should be identical to cold water except that it is heated. It shouldn’t have any tinge of red to it or carry any sediment. As a water heater corrodes, it can increase the sediment in the water and even allow rust to leech into the water, affecting the appearance and taste. Often, odors accompany this, although there are occasions when the water will appear fine but smell sulfurous. If the water quality from the hot water tank is bad, a professional opinion is needed. 

About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air

Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air offers upfront pricing on plumbing service and leaves no mess behind once they’re done. Their membership program extends the life of the plumbing in the home, especially the portion dedicated to water heater maintenance. Call today for water heater services in Fairhope, AL.

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The Home Isn't Haunted: It's a Faulty Water Heater

It Might Be Time for Water Heater Repair

It’s almost Halloween, and noises inside the home can feel extra scary. Whether screeching, hissing, or humming, any one of these noises might have homeowners thinking their home is haunted. In reality, they most likely are having water heater issues. Homeowners should hear a specific sound and try to find out where it is coming from. Of course, if it seems impossible to find the root of the cause, homeowners can call a professional plumber to get the job done because chances are the sounds are coming from the plumbing system. Many times, it is the water heater tank. 

If homeowners haven’t had water heater maintenance done in a while, it increases the chances of the noises coming from the water heater. To know for sure, continue reading below to learn more about all the different sounds a faulty water heater makes. 

Screeching and Hissing Noises Would Scare Anyone!woman

Screeching and hissing are two noises no one wants to hear in their home. Fortunately, if the noise comes from the water heater, one can fix the problem with a quick water heater maintenance service. Having the water heater serviced at least once a year could help homeowners avoid the problem altogether. Still, if the noises are happening, homeowners should know why they are happening to call a professional as soon as possible. 

Typically, when a water heater is hissing, it indicates a leak somewhere in the system. The homeowner will want to check out the water heater to see if there is a stream of water around the unit or coming from the pipe leading to the water heater. 

On the other hand, screeching points to a valve that isn’t opening all of the way. It is usually the pressure relief valve, and in both circumstances, the homeowner should call a trusted professional to perform water heater repair before the problems worsen. 

What About Rumbling, Popping, and Cracking?

Thankfully, any rumbling, popping, or cracking noises homeowners hear don’t usually point to an emergency. However, homeowners should have a water heater service done regardless because it still points to an underlying problem with the water heater itself. 

When the water heater is making these noises, there is most sediment in the water heater tank. What homeowners hear is the actual sediment bouncing around and bubbling inside of the tank. Sediment build-up is normal and occurs in water heater tanks, but it is also something easily avoided with regular water heater maintenance. Some other signs that there is sediment build-up in the water heater tank are: 

  • Fluctuating water temperatures
  • Diminishing hot water supply 
  • No hot water at all 
  • The water takes longer to heat up 
  • Increasing energy bills

It’s Not a Ghost Humming: It’s the Water Heaterwater heater

Humming is a noise that homeowners want to look out for. While it isn’t considered an emergency, it can lead to several problems if this noise isn’t fixed promptly. Humming from the water heater is a sign that the heating element is loose or going bad. 

In this circumstance, the professional will most likely recommend water heater repair that involves the heating element. They may even recommend replacing the water heater if the unit is old. Regardless, any noise that comes from the water heater should always be checked out by a professional.

Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air Provides Top-Rated Service

Fairhope homeowners call the professionals at Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air when they have plumbing issues. These experts work hard to always provide the best service for their customers because they care about their community. They are always open too, so homeowners don’t have to worry about the time! Call now for water heater service.