How often should I have my water heater checked out?

Signs Your Water Heater Is In Need Of Repairs

There are several tell-tale signs that will tell you if your water heater needs to be repaired. The most obvious is that there's no hot water coming out of your taps, but that could also be caused by the heater's pilot light going out, or its circuit breaker tripping.

Other signs can tell you if the heater's parts have severely corroded and are in need of repair or replacement. The first sign is that the water coming out of the heater's faucet is rust-colored. This can mean that parts inside are corroded. Likewise, clear hot water with a metallic smell or taste to it is an indicator of the same problem, and that the heater is in need of professional repairs.

There could also be problems with excessive mineral deposits. If you're hearing loud cracks or pops as your heater does its jobs, that usually means that there's a high amount of mineral buildup on the heating element. If the heater shows signs of muddy water inside after a professional has drained the tank, this is also a sign of large mineral quantities. Other loud noises such as banging in the pipes usually means that pressure in the heater needs to be reduced.

Another sign that the heater is in need of repair is that water is leaking from the top or the sides of the tank, which signifies that the pressure valves are loosening or that the pipes going to or from the heater are in need of tightening. If you smell gas near the heater, that means that the burner or thermocouple inside is defective, and needs to be taken care of immediately.

Whatever the problem, the best thing you can do is call a professional plumber to have your heater fixed. They can tell you exactly what the problem is, how to fix it, and they can get the proper permits that you'll need.

Is the water heater in your Orlando home in need of maintenance? Call Shamrock Plumbing and Drain Cleaning at (407) 305-6183 and get started today!