Rather than waiting until your water heater is 100 percent nonfunctional, watch for the signs that indicate it requires replacing. It is easier to have a water heater replaced at your convenience instead of when it stops working on a holiday weekend. Here are a few signs to watch for to determine if you need to replace a building’s water heater.

1: Drips of Water On the Floor or Walls Near a Water Heater

Use a flashlight to inspect a water heater to determine if there are drips of water on the floor or walls. An older water heater may have tiny leaks where moisture seeps through onto the walls or floors. If you delay replacing a leaking water heater, then the entire bottom of the device can degrade, spilling a lot of water onto the floor. This can lead to drywall, floor tile and carpet damage along with mold growth or mildew odor. Contact a plumber to replace a leaking water heater right away.

2: Weird Noises From a Water Heater

If a building’s water heater is making odd clanging or rumbling noises, then you should contact a plumber to inspect the device. When a water heater is emitting horrible sounds, it can indicate that the holding tank is filled with sediments or that the intake pipes are degrading on the inside. It is possible for a water heater to burst when there is high pressure inside the device, and this can become dangerous because natural gas may leak inside a building.

3: Odd Odors Emanating From a Water Heater

When you smell odd odors emanating from a water heater, it may have a problem such as an internal tank leak that is leading to mold growth on the appliance’s insulation. In addition to checking for an odor from the appliance, check the hot water that is flowing from the faucets. If the water has a disgusting odor, then it may have metal particles or sediments in it.

4: Monitor Your Monthly Utility Bills

Keep track of your water heating bills to determine if you are paying more than usual. An old water heater may have a tank that is filled with sediments, making it difficult for the appliance to heat water. Alternatively, an older water heater is not made according to new efficiency standards, and by replacing a water heater, you will have a new appliance that will reduce your monthly water-heating bill.

5: Not Having Enough Water For a Family or Business

If you have a water heater that is too small for your family, then it is time to upgrade to a larger tank size. A small water heater may have been fantastic when you were a single individual without children, but if you need to wash numerous loads of laundry for an infant or if you have a home filled with teenagers, then you will need a bigger water heater for your home.

6: The Hot Water Cools By the Time It Reaches a Faucet

When you live in a large multistory home, the hot water from a water heater can become cold before it reaches the faucet on a bathtub. In order to have hot water instantly, you can have point-of-use water heaters installed closer to a kitchen sink or bathroom.

Charlie Teschner started MESA Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling in 1982. Charlie has a journeyman and master plumber’s license. He was raised with a strong work ethic and he now applies those values to tasks such as Longmont, CO heating repair.