Water heaters often work even harder during the winter. Household hot water demand goes up, and many homes have their water heaters in unheated spaces. The start of the new year is an excellent time to schedule maintenance. You also need to monitor for signs that your water heater needs professional attention now.
Rising Energy Consumption
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that water heating accounts for about 18% of the average household’s energy usage. It’s significant, and even something as simple as sediment buildup in the tank can drive up your costs even higher. That’s why the industry recommends tracking your electric or fuel bill month to month and year to year. If you notice an unexplained spike, your water heater could be the culprit.
Strange Noises From the Tank
Modern water heaters are impressively quiet. If you can hear noises, it often means the water heater needs maintenance or repair. Kettling, which some describe as popping or whistling, is a common and concerning sound. It often means there’s too much sediment and limescale in the tank. Kettling can also suggest a problem with the pump or thermostat. Whistling and other high-pitched sounds indicate too much pressure in the tank. That can be due to limescale but may also suggest a bad temperature and pressure relief valve.
Smelly or Discolored Hot Water
Hot water that smells bad will often have a “rotten egg” odor, which is the result of hydrogen sulfide gas in the tank. If you’ve been away on vacation, this may shortly go away on its own. Otherwise, there may be bacteria in the tank, and we’ll need to flush and sanitize it.
Discolored hot water often has a reddish hue, which indicates corrosion. The problem can be as simple as a corroded anode rod that we need to replace. It can also indicate more serious corrosion in the pipes or on the inner tank wall.
Low Hot Water Pressure
Low hot water pressure often suggests a water heater problem. It could be limescale building up in the valves or even in the pipes. Note that it’s possible for your water heater to affect cold water pressure too. That happens when the scale encroaches on the home’s plumbing.
Fluctuating Hot Water Temperatures
The obvious culprit when experiencing fluctuating temperatures is a thermostat. Check to see if the setting is still correct, and if it is, we’ll need to test and calibrate the thermostat. The issue could also be a bad TPR valve. If the tank can’t relieve pressure, that can cause the temperature to change quickly. It could also be that the heating element or heat exchanger is malfunctioning.
For water heater maintenance in Asheville, NC this new year, contact our team at NCPD Service.
