How Do I Know if My Water Heater is Broken?

When your water heater starts to go, it affects multiple aspects of your life. Whether for washing dishes or taking a shower, your home’s hot water is integral to daily life. So when your water heater stops heating water as efficiently, it can affect you in myriad ways.

Spotting the warning signs early on will alert you to system failure. However, not everyone has expert-level knowledge on water heaters and what their warning signs look like. Luckily, we have created a list of the significant indicators you should keep in mind.

To learn more about water heaters, call King’s Services today at 204-815-5878. If you know you already have a water heater problem, we can give you a free estimate and connect you with a technician. Don’t suffer cold showers another day; get comprehensive water heater repair from King’s Services.

1. Your Hot Water Depletes Faster

If you notice you don’t have enough hot water for all your family members' morning showers, your water heater may be on its last leg. Usually, this indicates that your unit does not produce enough hot water, as it clearly can produce some for a little while.

Adjusting your water heater’s temperature dial can sometimes fix the problem. Make sure power flows to your water heater tank via the circuit breaker and test the new temperature setting. Sometimes, electric water heaters can trip the circuit, in which case you should call a professional at King’s Services to safely resolve the issue, as your unit likely pulls more power than it needs.

Drain your water tank if changing the temperature does not help. Sediment at the bottom of the tank could be preventing your water heater from operating at its best.

Most importantly, pay attention to how much hot water you get now compared to previously. If you cannot fix the problem using our tips, call us immediately to get a technician out to your house.

2. Your Water Heater Is Leaking

You can spot a leaking water heater by a pool of water forming around the bottom of your tank. Typically, this sign indicates a potential critical failure, and you should schedule a repair immediately.

In the interest of safety, disconnect all power sources to your water heater before diagnosing a problem. After it has cooled off, you can begin to inspect further.

Ensure all screws and joining parts remain tight and in place, and tighten them if they are not, as faulty connections cause many leaks. Another cause of the issue could be wear and tear, as after expanding from heat countless times, your water tank may rupture.

It can be tricky to spot tiny leaks, so we suggest checking your unit regularly, including checking for water damage at its base. Even a small leak can lead to the loss of thousands of gallons of water if it goes untreated long enough.

3. You Hear Unusual Noises

If you hear loud cracks, whines, bangs, or gurgling, something is amiss. A water heater should not be making any noticeable noise when functioning correctly. A rumbling or clanking sound could mean sediment is gathering within your unit, making it hard for your water heater to warm its contents properly.

We recommend you contact one of our specialists once a year to flush your unit. This clears all the buildup and makes your water heater perform like new. If you continue to hear noises post-flush, your water heater is possibly beyond repair, and it may be time to consider a new unit.

4. Your Water Is Discolored

If your water appears off-colored or has a stench, your water heater may be harboring bacteria or even rust. In some cases, your tank’s anode rod, which disinfects your water, may be damaged. A broken anode rod requires a fair amount of technical skills to replace, so you want to forgo any DIY plumbing attempts in this instance.

You can check if your poor-quality water is the heater’s fault by testing hot and cold water in your sink. If you still notice the smell and color from the cold water, the problem lies with the source and not your water heater.

You can install water filters in your tank if you’ve determined the water heater is the problem. As previously suggested, our expert technicians can flush your tank to ensure the immediate removal of any rust or bacteria. Flushing, cleaning, and turning the tank's temperature up to 150 degrees can be enough to clean your tank.

5. You’re Sporting an Older Unit

The latest water heaters come built with more durability than previous generations’ models. Often, older models, even those manufactured five years ago, conk out after five years or so, requiring heavy repairs or complete replacement. You can get at least a decade out of any newer model (and you likely don’t need replacement yet if you have one).

If you don’t know when your house’s previous owner purchased your water heater, you can check the serial number along the side or bottom. Usually, an older heater will display some of the signs earlier on this list, giving you a more immediate reason for concern.

If you have questions about your water heater’s age, give us a call, and one of our technicians can check it out for you. Perhaps it’s time to upgrade to a new water heater—one that will save you money on utility bills for years to come.

Don’t Wait in the Cold: Replace Your Water Heater Today

If you experience one or more of these issues, your water heater may be on its way out. Fortunately, however, our water heater experts at King’s Services have the training and equipment to diagnose your problem and set you up with a brand new water heater.

Should your unit only need fixing, we offer the best, most competitive water heater repair in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Call King’s Services today and start enjoying the comfort of your warm water.