One of the most illustrative examples of Murphy’s Law, which lets you know that anything that can go wrong will do so when you least expect it, happens to many people on cold winter mornings. This is when you want the warmth and comfort of a hot shower the most, thus making it the worst possible time for the water heater to malfunction. You can avoid this classic Murphy’s Law situation if you notice a few signs prompting you to call for an immediate repair.
Although there will always be a chance that your heater will stop delivering hot water suddenly and without warning, most of them will begin malfunctioning in certain ways that let you know repairs are needed sooner rather than later. With this in mind, let’s look at two of these signs.
No Hot Water Anywhere in the House
If only the shower is without hot water, it may be a plumbing issue; however, if there’s no hot water coming out of any faucet in your house, this is a strong indicator that the problem lies with the heating unit or its energy source. In storage water heaters with tanks, this could mean that the heating element is no longer functional. Another possibility would be the electrical connection.
If your heater runs on gas, the issues may range from a lack of ignition or the fuel not running through the lines. While this can be correctly described as a system failure, it doesn’t mean it will require replacement or overhaul; it could be a single issue that can be reasonably repaired without complications.
Since we already mentioned system failure, it is important to note the lifespan of residential water heaters in our area. An electric storage heater, for example, can last 15 years with annual maintenance, so don’t be surprised if this happens in a property built before 2010. If your gas heater is equipped with a tank, it will last about a decade. With tankless systems, whether they are gas or electric, the lifespan increases by about five years, so you can expect them to stop working after 15 or 20 years.
Lukewarm Water
When you have some hot water that feels cooler than usual, it suggests that the heater is not reaching its full heating capacity. This could be due to a failing thermostat, sediment buildup from the mineral-heavy water in our region, or even a storage tank that is not sufficient for the hot water needs of everyone in your household. Hard water with high mineral content can lead to sedimentation, thus reducing the efficiency of the system.
If you need water heater repair or replacement services, your next move should be to contact NCPD Service in Asheville, NC.
