Let’s be honest – hot water is essential to daily life. Anyone who’s ever had to take a cold shower in the middle of winter can tell you that for a fact. So there’s nothing worse than your hot water heater suddenly deciding to play tricks on you. It’s an actual disaster, and one you want to avoid at all costs. 

Luckily, there are some signs to look out for that can alert you to when your hot water system is about to have a breakdown. Keep an eye out for these and call a professional in time, and you need never suffer under the icy shower spray again.

Your water doesn’t get hot enough or doesn’t heat at all

Have you been running the tap for five minutes and the water is still only lukewarm? It’s definitely disappointing – but it may not actually be as big a problem as you’d expect. Temperature troubles are common, and can often be resolved by simply adjusting your thermostat.

However, if that doesn’t work, your hot water system may be trying to tell you that you have a broken heating element (or gas thermocouple on devices powered by natural gas). These components should cost you under $100, and can easily be replaced on your own. Of course, you can get a plumber in if you prefer – just be aware that it will cost you about $150, plus the cost of the replacement parts.

The heater is making a lot of noise

Strange noises like bangs and whines are usually a sign that something is wrong with your heater. Most noise issues are caused by the sediment that builds up in the bottom of the water tank. When the sediment is heated and reheated, it hardens and produces those annoying banging sounds.

This issue can usually be fixed by flushing the tank. Keep in mind that a professional will charge you around $80 per hour to do the work, so it might be wise to try correcting the problem yourself before making that call.

Your hot water is discoloured

It’s pretty obvious that something is up when your taps start spitting out rusty looking water. In fact, it can mean one of two things – either your pipes are rusting, or the hot water system is. If it’s only the hot water that’s discoloured, there’s a good chance that your water heater is rusting away on the inside, which may lead to leaks.

Try draining a few buckets of hot water out of the system to test whether it’s the pipes or the tank. You will only need to drain three buckets to get your answer. If the water is still discoloured, there is no way to fix this problem. That means you will eventually have to replace the tank.

The heater is leaking

Check your water system for moisture to determine if you have a small leak or fracture in the tank. You may even notice standing water near the unit, which means you have a major problem on your hands, as this can lead to flooding and other damages.

Leaks can’t be repaired, so you’ll need to call a professional right away to replace your tank. The cost of a replacement unit will depend on the size and brand of tank you chose, but they’re usually around $1000.

If you need advice further from a professional or want to replace your hot water systems, search Yellow Pages listings today.