Hot water is one of the main necessities of any home. We use it for cleaning, bathing, cooking, as well as other functions. It is especially crucial to have it in cold seasons. You can’t even dream of buying a house that doesn’t have a working hot water system. Just think about going for a cold shower when you wake up in the morning. Most homeowners take hot water for granted until some kind of problem arises and then they realize how much they rely on it.
There are visible indications that the homeowners should know to find out if they are having any issues with their hot water system. These signs and symptoms will tell them whether they can have their system repaired or if they need to replace the old system with a new one. Knowing these signs will also come in handy when you are going to buy a house, whether it’s in Sydney, Melbourne or anywhere else in the world. Make an informed decision when contacting RapidHotWater in Sydney for a new state of the art system.
You need to know if your water heater will last for another winter or not. Because the winter is when you need it the most and if it breaks down, then you will have to spend time without any hot water and that is something that nobody wants.
Here are the top five symptoms that let you know if your hot water system is damaged:
An Aged Unit
If you have just bought a house, or if you have been living in it for a long time, you need to know how old your water heater unit is. This age will let you know if you need to upgrade your hot water system or not. The usual age for any water heater’s life is anywhere between eight to twelve years. Another factor that directly affects the life of a hot water system is the quality of water that you are using. For example, if you are using hard water and not maintaining your hot water system your hot water system might break down before its guarantee time. If you know it’s age and what quality of water you are using, you can estimate it’s useful life remaining and find out whether it’s time for an upgrade or not. The general formula for any hot water system is that if it’s over ten years old, it’s probably a good time to change it.
The more your system ages, the more it will have to work to dispense the hot water needed by you and your family. This will result in your hot water system working overtime and result in a complete breakdown. With your dishwasher, washing machine, and multiple bathrooms making continuous demands of your aging hot water system, it is inevitable.
A Leaking Tank
A leak might not seem too much to you but it poses a major problem for your water heater. If there is a leak in your system, then you will see water standing around the water heater. These signs make it clear to you that it is time for a system upgrade. A leaking tank cannot be repaired. It can only be replaced. The sooner you replace it with a better system, the more comfortable you can live. If you try to keep on going with a leaky water tank, then you might have to face dreadful consequences. These consequences can mean flooding or some other serious problems in the future. If the leaks are coming from a valve, the valve can be replaced. But if the leak is coming from a tank, then the entire system has to be replaced. All leaks should be promptly checked by a licensed plumber.
Lukewarm or Cold Water
If your water heating system is not providing the water according to the setting of the thermostat then that might give you an indication that there is a problem. A hot water system that is working properly should not be giving lukewarm or cold water at all. Check your thermostat to see if it shows any changes in temperature. If there are, then your heating element might be getting overused. This could be due to a leak in your pipes or an increase in its use. If the demand has increased, then you might need to upgrade your water heating system to a larger capacity.
Rust and Corrosion
One of the major signs that you need to upgrade your hot water system is rust and corrosion inside your water tank. This means that your tank’s life is over. You need to change it as soon as possible. The rust can be found in the water coming from the tap or the shower. If this is not taken care of immediately, it can affect your entire water system. It can destroy your pipes and even your appliances that use the hot water, like your washing machine and dishwashers.
Noise from the Tank or Drain Valve not working
If your hot water system has been working for a long time, it might start making noise. This will especially happen when it is heating the water. These noises might include banging, rumbling, popping, or cracking noises. This means that your water heating unit is finally on the verge of exhaustion and you should immediately replace it. These noises are produced because of the sediments that build up around the heater. These sediments form a layer on the heating element and stop the system from working efficiently. If you let these noises persist, they might end up creating a leak in your system and that can lead up to flooding.
CONCLUSION
These are the top five signs that you need to consider in immediately replacing your hot water system so that the new one lasts longer and you can enjoy hot water any time you want.