Your water heater is the central appliance within your home's plumbing system, and without it you can find yourself unable to properly clean your clothes, your dishes, and even yourself. Fortunately, there are a few early indications that can point to developing issues with your water heater. Understanding what the most common signs of water heater problems are can help you figure out when you should get in touch with a plumber to inspect and replace your unit.

Irregular Noises

Your water heater should be completely silent, or close to it, at all times. A water heater that is creating a significant amount of noise when it turns on can point to a layer of sediment or hard buildup along the base of the tank, which can expand when the unit turns on, causing banging, pinging, or cracking noises. Small amounts of sediment can be removed by simply flushing and cleaning the tank, but heavy buildup can require a completely new tank to restore the efficiency and capacity of your water heater.

Reduced Water Pressure

If you find that your hot water pressure is lower than your cold water pressure, your water heater is likely on its last legs. This can be caused by a few different causes, including heavy sediment buildup which restricts the flow of water, or damage to the interior valves and pipes connecting the water heater to your home's plumbing system. Keep in mind that if your cold water is affected as well, the issue likely lies with either a leak in your plumbing or the buildup of hard water deposits within your plumbing, which will require different solutions to fix.

Orange Hot Water

Another clear sign that your water heater desperately needs to be replaced is if the hot water coming out of your faucets and water fixtures is orange, brown, or otherwise similarly discolored. This can point to the development of rust within the interior of your water heater. You should have the unit inspected and replaced as soon as possible because rust that is allowed to continue to spread can quickly eat its way through the tank of your water heater and cause a great deal of water damage in the basement of your home.

Water

Finally, the last thing that you should watch out for is the presence of water anywhere around the base of your water heater. This points to either a damaged seal or component or because of rust that has been around long enough to eat through the tank, as mentioned above. Avoid using your water heater until the leak has either been patched or the unit itself has been replaced to minimize the water damage.

For more information, reach out to a local plumbing contractor today.