You always want to be certain the water heater in your home always remains operational. However, as time goes on, its efficiency is going to deteriorate. Generally speaking, you need to replace your water heater after eight to 12 years. Depending on what type of heater you own, you may be able to get 15 years’ worth of life out of it. Regardless, you need to be aware of when your heater is breaking down, so you can seek out the proper repairs. The dangers are far greater than just cold showers.
Flooding
One danger of faulty water heaters is that they begin to leak when they get too old. The exterior starts to develop cracks, resulting in puddles directly underneath the unit. Depending on where in your house the heater is located, this water can seep into various areas. If it is near a carpeted room, then flooding may require you to completely tear out the carpet and start from scratch. Even if it is in the garage, you do not want to risk your possessions sustaining water damage.
Property Damage
This flooding can affect a lot more than simply the flooring. It can also impact the surrounding drywall. If the flood is severe enough, then water can get behind the wall and deteriorate the insulation. You will need to call a professional team to not only remove the water but to tear out the drywall and put in new insulation. Suddenly, the repair costs have increased more greatly than if you had simply fixed the water heater when problems first appeared.
Contaminated Water
Rust and other contaminants can get inside the water heater, and this liquid will flow to other areas of the home. This water may get inside your mouth as you take a shower. It can contain bacteria, and it can have a negative impact on your overall health. The most obvious sign you have contaminated water is that the liquid will appear brown in color.
Explosion
An explosion related to the water heater is extremely rare, but it has been known to happen. All water heaters come with a pressure relief valve. The reason for this is that most tanks tend to overpressurize from time to time. The relief valve takes away some of this pressure so that it does not build up. In the event something goes wrong with this valve, then all that pressure builds up, and the heater could explode. A heater can literally blast off from the floor and damage the surrounding walls and foundation. Do not put your home at risk.
Scalding Water
When many people think of a broken water heater, they think water coming out of the faucets will be too cold. Another more dangerous problem is the potential for excessively hot water to come out of the faucets and burn someone. Most of the time, scalding water is a result of a broken thermostat of a high mineral content within the heater. Water heater repair can consist of repairing or replacing the thermostat to ensure you receive more comfortable temperatures of water.
The easiest thing you can do is to regularly maintain your water heater so that you always know how it is doing. You should drain the heater twice a year to remove excess sediments that could lead to corrosion. In the event you do find something off, then do not hesitate to contact a professional to come out and take a look. If you have someone come out soon enough, then you may only need a few repairs. You want to get the most out of your investment, so avoid needing to replace the heater for as long as possible.