Water Heater Iowa City

How to Diagnose Water Heater Issues

Your home needs hot water to feel comfortable and to provide you with many different services. As a result, you need the best water heater Iowa City has to offer. Thankfully, we at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can help you out, even if your heater fails. Make sure to pay attention to these symptoms to ensure you don’t have problems.

Your Heater Can’t Run Without Noise

Have you ever been in your basement and heard your water heater kick on and wonder why it was so loud? If so, you have problems that need to be fixed as soon as possible. That’s because your heater shouldn’t make any noises when it runs or should have a relatively low operating sound. When you hear noises, that means you have an issue.

Typically, you’re going to start noticing this problem later in the heater’s life – remember, most have a life expectancy of up to 10 years or longer, depending on how well you take care of them. As a result, you may find that your heater is starting to get a little worn out fairly quickly, which may require you to either get it repaired or replaced.

What kind of sounds are you likely to hear when your heater is failing? A grinding noise is never a good one to hear. You may also hear rushing water and other sounds that are quite concerning. So make sure that you get your heater checked out if it starts making noises that make you uncomfortable.

Smells of Rust in Your Water

A good water heater shouldn’t start to rust that quickly because it uses a variety of protective elements to keep it secure and capable. Unfortunately, there is also a chance that rust could start to develop on the metal elements of the heater. This occurs when the anti-rust bar starts to degrade too much, and rust spreads through the heater.

You may not notice this rust, at first, because it is often focused on the inside of the heater. That said, there are also you could spot some rust on the exterior and, if you do, this is a very troubling concern. That’s because rust on the outside of the tank means the rust on the interior has likely become very widespread.

Therefore, it is critical to pay attention to any sign that you may have rust in your heater. For example, smell your water to see if it has a rusty scent. If it does, there’s a good chance that the tank is also rusty. And don’t forget that you may also see flecks of rust in your water – and if you do, do not drink your water and get an expert in immediately.

A Buildup of Sediment

Did you know that your water heater is naturally creating sediment almost every time it runs? That sediment is residue from the tank, and it can be very frustrating to manage. Most of the time, this buildup won’t be a huge deal because it takes time for it to buildup. Unfortunately, once it does, it can cause some real issues.

First of all, your heater is going to be much less efficient, as it will take more energy to heat the water. Even worse, you’re likely to suffer from accelerated damage to your tank that may turn its metal brittle and make cracks more likely to form. This problem can be an issue without professional help.

Usually, you’ll need to get your tank completely replaced – which is in and of itself frustrating – to ensure that it is safe. However, you may be able to get some parts replaced or flush out the sediment with the help of professionals. Doing so can help to resist the damage that it may cause to your heater.

You Notice Leaks

Lastly, a water heater either needs to be replaced or repaired if you notice any excessive leaks causing water to spread uncontrollably. This problem typically occurs just when your heater is about to give up the ghost and can be a troubling one to notice. Usually, you’ll see it around various seals on the tank near pipes, valves, and other areas. However, leaks may also occur because the metal of the tank expands, and the connections between the various plates become weaker.

That happens because the metal of the tank is exposed to excessive heat every time your heater runs. While there is shielding to prevent damage, there is a chance that the metal will warp over time. Most of the time, you’re going to need to replace the tank to fix this problem. Repairs usually aren’t good enough because you’ll only be delaying the inevitable. Though replacement is costly, repairs can be even more expensive due to their sustained nature.

Let Us Fix Your Heater

As you can see, even the most powerful water heater available in Iowa City can run into problems that need repairs. So please don’t hesitate to contact us at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing right away. Our experts have years of experience and will do what they can to help you and your home.