If you have ever had a cold shower on a chilly winter morning, then you know how essential a water heater is to your home. With the many hot water uses, it only makes sense to have an appliance that ensures a constant hot water supply. Unfortunately, the water heater is also susceptible to damage from various causes like sediment accumulation. You might quickly dismiss the water supply as the cause of the water heater problems. However, it is sometimes a sneaky culprit and one that you shouldn’t ignore.
For instance, the water heater tank can sometimes accumulate sediments from the minerals and particles dissolved in the water. If the sediment deposits aren’t removed, you might need a water heater repair in Normal, IL, sooner rather than later. This is because sediments might cause issues like leaking, higher energy consumption, and odd noises, most of which take a toll on the water heater’s service life. Below are some signs that sediment has accumulated in the water heater.
Popping, Hissing, Banging, or Rambling Noises
Loud sounds from the water heater are a standard indicator of sedimentation in the water heater tank. If the water heating unit produces the noise above, that signifies that the particulate matter and minerals have formed a layer on the walls or at the bottom of the unit’s tank. When the heating element is heating up, the sediments are burnt at the bottom of the tank, producing those unusual sounds you hear.
Additionally, the air pockets in water trapped under the sediment layer might begin producing the popping sound whenever the heating element heats up. If the water under the heating element starts boiling to steam, you might notice a hissing or sizzling sound. Whenever you hear these sounds, they are a sign of sediment accumulation. Have the unit flushed by a plumbing technician to restore its efficiency.
The Water Only Becomes Lukewarm
Have you noticed that the shower water feels lukewarm even when setting the shower knob to “scolding hot” temperatures? Is it taking long before the heated water begins to flow from the hot water taps? The main culprit might be sediment accumulation whenever you notice or experience any of the problems above. If the water heater isn’t sufficiently heating the water, that is a sign of sediment accumulation in the tank. Most standard water heater tanks can only hold about 10-100 gallons of water at a time.
When the water is being heated, the minerals separate from the water molecules and settle on the interior walls or at the bottom of the tank. The sediment accumulates within the tank, creating a thick layer of insulation between the heating element and the water. Due to this, the heating efficiency of the heating element reduces, and less heat energy reaches the water.
Hence, you will experience more cold showers, and the tap water will be lukewarm. Unfortunately, the more sediment accumulation, the harder it becomes for the heating element to sufficiently heat the water. If the unit isn’t flushed by a water heater repair technician in Normal, IL, it will eventually fail.
Rusty or Cloudy Heated Water
Does the water look cloudy? Or doesn’t it look rusty and has a metallic taste or scent? Those are signs of a filing water heating unit because of sediment accumulation. Although the sediment might discolor the water and give it an orange or reddish color, it also catalyzes corrosion of various water heater elements, especially the tank. The corrosion within a water heater can arise because of the sediment layer on top of the heating element.
Besides restricting the efficient heating of the water, the sediment accumulation can also damage the water heater’s interior walls. As the interior lining deteriorates, the steel or iron beneath might start being eaten up by corrosion. The hot water then carries particles from your water heater’s tank to the faucets, shower, and other heated water-using appliances. Hence, if you notice these sounds in your home’s water heater, have a water heater repair technician thoroughly inspect the unit and flush it.
Faulty or Leaking Pressure Relief Valve
Is the water heating unit’s T&P (temperature and pressure) valve leaking? Maybe water doesn’t flow via the piping whenever you test this life-saving valve. In either scenario, you might need to do more than replace the valve. The accumulation of salts, sediments, and rusting on your unit’s heating element might make the element heat up more than usual to make up for the sediment accumulation, more of a reason to have a water heater repair professional inspect the unit. Whenever this happens, the tank might heat up to the extent that it expands to put up with the internal pressure.
A lot of pressure within the water heater tank might eventually make the tank spring a leak or burst. In extreme cases, the water heater tank might explode. Fortunately, most water heaters feature a T&P valve that prevents this issue. Whenever the pressure or temperature within the water heater is too high, this valve opens, releasing pressure as a gas or steam. However, the pressure is too high, so it might make the valve fail and spring a leak. However, you can avert this issue by enlisting a water heater repair technician to flush the tank once every year.
Reduced Hot Water Flow
You might be in a hurry to clean the dishes or wash your clothes, but filling the dishwasher, sink, or washing machine takes a long time. To determine where the problem lies, compare the pressure of the water from hot water taps to that from the cold-water taps. Where lies the problem if the hot water taps are the only ones with low water pressure. Changes in the water pressure from the shower or faucet might be attributed to the sediment accumulation in your water heating unit’s tank. Sediment might accumulate in the water heater tank for some time, affecting the water flow and pressure. Hence, if the water pressure is suddenly abnormally low, the accumulation of sediments might be the issue. Regardless, call your reliable water heater repair technician to inspect the unit for the cause of the reduced water pressure and fix it.
Your Go-To Plumbing Company
A water heater is critical because it ensures a constant hot water supply into various outlets of your Normal, IL home. Hence, you should spare no effort to ensure it is efficiently functioning. Otherwise, you might wake up on a cold winter morning to a unit that isn’t working. This includes routine maintenance and inspections by a water heater repair technician. If the unit accumulates sediments, the water heater repair expert will flush the tank to remove them. Have you noticed any of the signs above on your water heater? They indicate that sediments have accumulated within. Call us at Covenant Plumbing for water heater repair and maintenance services such as routing flushing and inspections.
