Hot Water Tank Troubleshooting
Residential hot water systems are built to last. For the price you end up paying for them, they are a good investment considering their expected lifespan. The water tank in a residential hot water system is among the most important components of the system, without which your system as it is would not be able to function. Therefore, it is important to know how to identify signs of trouble with the hot water tank before they get out of hand. This way you can undertake tank repairs in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Here are three signs that your hot water tank needs to be repaired.
Leakages
Leaks are the most obvious sign that the hot water tank might have a problem and are probably the most common problem with residential hot water systems. The occurrence of leaks in a hot water tank is more often than not an indication that the heating elements within the tank have become loose or that the tank has suffered structural damage, resulting in serious corrosion.
If the heating elements are loose, the system repair specialist will simply need to tighten them, and you'll be enjoying hot water in no time. In the event that severe corrosion on the tank is responsible for the leakage, you might have to wait a bit longer to enjoy your hot water because the tank will need to be replaced.
Brown or Red Water
Another obvious sign that your hot water tank is faulty is when you notice a significant change in the colour of water that runs through your taps. Severe corrosion on the tank will make the water running through your taps have a brown or red colour. This colour results from the fact that water will pick up sediment from the corroded section of the tank as water passes through it before finally getting to your tap and faucets.
Noisy Hot Water Tank
An unfamiliar noise emanating from your hot water tank is also a sure sign of tank trouble. In most cases, hot water tanks will produce such noise when there is an excessive build-up of sediment on the floor of the tank.
In order to get your hot water system back to noiseless operation, the built-up sediment has to be cleaned out. Your chosen hot water system repair specialist can do this and still reinstall the tank in no time.
To learn more about things like electric hot water systems, contact a plumber near you.