5 Signs Your North Durham Home Has A Failing Hot Water Heater

6/2/2017 (Permalink)

A failed hot water heater can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your North Durham home.

For most home owners, a hot water heater is one of those set it and forget items. It’s a silent, yet integral part of modern convenience. The average residential hot water heater holds 50 - 80 gallons of water. Unfortunately, when it breaks all of that water soaks into your home potentially causing extensive repairs or in some cases, replacement of contents.

Most homeowners have no idea their hot water heater is near the end of is serviceable life, but here are some red flags to alert you.

Rusty water. This one can be a bit problematic because it could be either the inside of the water heater rusting or it could be your home’s plumbing. You will need contact a professional to determine the difference.

Rumbling Noises. Unfortunately, the water in North Durham is hard. This means there are extra minerals in the water. Over time these minerals solidify into sediment which builds up in your hot water heater. The sediment can weigh down the bottom of the tank and shift around causing your tank to make gurgling or rumbling noises. Investigate noises immediately as this is often a sign that can lead to the unit overworking, or worse future leaks.

Condensation. If your unit has any moisture around it, there is a good chance there is an underlying leak or crack.

Lukewarm Water. If your hot water isn’t as hot as it used to be, or you find your family is frequently running out of hot water, it may be time to replace your unit.

Age. The average lifespan of a hot water is about 10 years. You should have a replacement plan in mind around that time frame ideally, before it breaks in order to prevent damage.

We hope these signs are able to alert you to a failing hot water and you can use them to protect your home before it breaks. If disaster does strike, you local SERVPRO® of North Durham is always here to help.