Water heaters are just as prone to breaking down as any other system. You can schedule preventive maintenance for it to lower the odds of problems developing in the system, and you should. Even if you do, though, you still need to keep an eye out for problems in the system between appointments. The faster you can recognize that your water heater is experiencing some sort of problem, the faster you can have it repaired and the more damage you can prevent. The following are some common signs that your water heater is experiencing problems.
Leaks
In general, leaks in a hydronic system of any kind are bad news. Water heaters can spring leaks in a number of places, some of which are merely annoying and some of which are incredibly dangerous to the system. A leak in the storage tank, for example, can cause the entire thing to rupture if it isn’t dealt with as quickly as possible. If that happens, you will likely have to replace the entire system. So, make sure that you call for repairs as soon as you notice a leak anywhere in your system.
Falling Hot Water Output
If your water heater is having trouble providing enough hot water for your needs after an extended shower, or when you have multiple people placing demand on it at once, then you’ve probably just overwhelmed it. If your water is having more trouble providing hot water than it should, though, then it probably means that there’s a deeper issue in the system. It could be that you have sediment building up in the tank, in which case it will need to be flushed out. It’s also possible that you have an issue with the burner assembly being clogged. You’ll need to have a professional diagnose the system to know for certain.
Sudden Temperature Swings
If your system is switching rapidly between hot and cold water while you’re trying to use it, you may have a problem with the dip tube. This is the tube that keeps the cold water flowing into the water heater separate from the hot water leaving the system. The dip tube is usually just made of PVC, and is prone to degrading over time. A cracked dip tube will leak cold water into the warm water leaving the tank, which causes the unpredictable shifts in temperature. Replacing the dip tube will resolve the problem, although you should have a professional technician do this for you.
These are just a few of the issues that can afflict your water heater. If you want to keep your system in good shape, you should call for repairs if you suspect that anything is wrong with your system. Better to be safe and get the system checked out than to ignore a potentially serious issue.
Tucker’s Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing offers comprehensive plumbing services throughout Germantown, MD. If you are looking for the best plumber in Germantown, you’ve found us! Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians.