If you enjoy nice, hot showers on cold winter days or a warm bath after a long day of work, you can thank your hot water system for providing you with these lovely benefits. A hot water system is something that should ideally last you for quite a long time with minimal maintenance and hopefully minimal issues.
Chances are, you probably aren’t going into your loft or outdoors to inspect your hot water system all that often – only when it’s not working properly does it come under some scrutiny. What are some of the signs that your hot water system may be in need of a replacement? Here are five of the most common ones:
Leaks and/or Corrosion of Fittings
Usually you’ll see leaks before you go and check out the hot water tank, whereby you might find rusted fittings or valves. These are often signs that the hot water tank and system are reaching the end of their lifespan and a replacement is most likely going to be necessary soon.
The leaks will usually cause puddling where the hot water system is located, not inside of your shower or bathtub. Those are probably signs of faulty plumbing and while it’s essential to get that inspected and dealt with, it usually isn’t from the hot water system itself. If you see puddling around the hot water tank and valves, call a plumber near you.
Inconsistent Temperature or High Energy Bills
Few things are worse than getting a blast of icy cold water during a hot shower, so if you’re experiencing fluctuating temperatures it’s likely a sign of trouble with the hot water tank. What sometimes happens is that sediment can enter the tank and reduce its efficiency, forcing it to work harder and resulting in volatile temperatures. This could be hazardous too, since you could get blasts of scalding water.
If your energy bills are much higher than anticipated, it could be because the hot water system is being forced to work harder than it should. Save yourself the headache and long-term energy prices and get it looked at.
Rusty, Discoloured Water
If your water is coming out with a rusty colour, yellowish or cloudy, it could be from corrosion within the tank. Hot water systems often use anodised rods and have tank linings that could be worn out, which means that the tank is exposed and the water will leach heavy metals leading to its discolouration.
Do try to seek out hot water replacement in Melbourne at the earliest convenience if you see this sign because it could damage your appliances or pose health hazards. Get your tank replaced as soon as you can to avoid further issues.
Strange Noises Coming from the Tank
Hot water tanks, even new, do have some audible noises when they’re heating up water and churning it over to wherever it’s needed. They shouldn’t be making excessive noise, however.
If you’re hearing popping, rumbling, or banging noises clearly coming from the hot water tank, it’s usually a sign of sediment buildup within the tank which reduces its efficiency.
Previous Issues with the Tank
Hot water system repairs are often a cost-effective alternative to replacement, especially if the unit is less than a decade old. Constant repairs not only cause headaches and disruptions to your daily routine, but they add up in cost as well.
If you’ve had to repair the hot water system multiple times and it’s still giving you issues, it may be time to get out of the sunken cost rut and just buy a new one.
FastnLocal Plumbing
Replace your hot water system professionally with FastnLocal Plumbing.