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Your water heater can be your best friend or your worst enemy. On days when you wake up and enjoy the soothing feel of hot water against your back, you will be grateful for small pleasures like hot water. On days when you wake up and are jolted even more awake by the crash of cold water against your nerve endings, you will probably curse your water heater. Obviously, the second scenario is a clear sign that it is time for water heater repair in Arlington, TX.

Water heaters are a tricky appliance, because to the homeowner that doesn’t know better they can appear to be functioning at full capacity without any issue. However, to the homeowner that is a bit more discerning, there are little signs that indicate your water heater may be inching closer towards breakdown. This is why it is important to familiarize yourself with the common signs of water heater repair. Not only can it save you a lot of trouble, but it can help you avoid getting stuck under an ice-cold shower on a Monday morning.

After all, some things you can wait a few days to repair or call around and gather estimates for, emergency repairs is not one of them. If your tank bursts or you suddenly have no access to hot water you will find yourself unable to do just about everything in your home from bathing to cleaning. Therefore, the best way to protect yourself from an emergency situation is to stay ahead of the problem by recognizing signs or booking an annual repair visit. Here is a quick glimpse at both things to help you stay on track.

Learn the Virtues of Water Heater Repair & Service

First off, one of the best ways to stay ahead of the game is by remembering to book your annual hot water heater repair service visit in Arlington, TX. It is recommended by most manufacturers that you service your water heater at least once a year. A lot of people don’t realize this, but doing so can save you a lot of hassle and a lot of money down the road. Like most annual services, a water heater service is designed to thoroughly clean out your water tank while also allowing a trained technician the chance to inspect the condition of the tank both of which can help you stay ahead of potential issues.

There are several things that will happen during your water heater repair and service appointment. The first thing is that your water heater will be flushed out. This requires draining the tank and then cleaning it to ensure that all sediment is removed. Over the course of time minerals and other materials from water filter out and start to build upon the bottom of the tank. Homes with hard water will have an even larger issue with sediment since there are more minerals to slowly drift towards the bottom of the tank.

Sediment causes a lot of issues with water heater tanks. It can lay over top of the heating coils and prevent heat from equally distributing throughout your tank leading to uneven hot water and it can also lead to the development of premature rust on the bottom of your tank. It can also eventually affect the quality of your water and even lead to rust or other minerals that shouldn’t be heavily concentrated in water ending up in your kitchen sink and bathroom. In larger enough qualities, it can even cause an explosion.

As it is clear to see, sediment is not something that you want to mess around with, but if you book your annual water heater repair and service you won’t have to worry about it too much. The technician will drain the tank and remove the sediment preventing any future issues. They will also note if there is a heavy amount of sediment in the tank as this might mean that it is time to consider using a filter for your municipal or well water to help soften it and make it easier on your home appliances. Hard water is tough on water heaters and the general Arlington, TX home plumbing systems in general.

Another important thing that will happen during the water heater repair visit is the plumber will carefully check your water heater’s anode rod. The anode rod is designed to dissolve naturally over time to balance the water and the overall effects o water on the heater. It counteracts the growth of rust and is extremely important when it comes to keeping your water heater in great shape and extending its lifespan. During the maintenance visit, the plumber will take a close look at the anode rod to see if it is time to replace it. Ignoring this important water heater repair aspect of the service will likely result in your water heater rusting and breaking well before its intended lifespan.

Replacing an anode rod is actually a simple process for a plumber if the issue is identified early enough. This alone is one great reason to book an annual water repair visit. Rust is the number one thing that causes water heaters to die before their time. Once rust starts showing there is little you can do to stop its spread. Usually, rust that appears on the outside is also on the inside so any rust is generally a sign that you need to replace the entire water heater which is also not what anyone wants to hear or do.

Finally, while these are two major tasks that the plumber will be focused on during the service visit, they will also spend time investigating the rest of your water heater. Their aim is to note if there are any evident issues so they can suggest proper water heater repair options before the tank actually fails. If there are any big signs of an impending issue like a crack or rust, they might suggest you heavily start thinking about water tank replacement now. This is something you generally want to get ahead of because waiting too long will result in a burst tank and a much larger headache. Some things like rust simply aren’t choices for water heater repair, so it’s important to listen to what the plumber has to say during the annual service visit.

Learn the Signs That You Need Water Heater Repair

While an annual service can help prevent a lot of problems, issues do arise from time to time that you need to be ready to deal with. Anytime you are dealing with an appliance you are dealing with mechanics, and with the presence of water, there is a larger margin of error that allows things to go wrong. For this reason, while it is less likely that a serviced water heater will go bad, there is always a chance that something will develop. With this in mind, you need to know how to recognize the signs that you need water heater repair so you can act appropriately and quickly when a problem occurs.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of things that can be fixed on a water heater if the problem is quickly figured out. The sooner you act on a potential problem the better the chance that you will be looking at water heater repair in Arlington, TX versus water heater replacement. With that in mind, here are a few signs that should tip you off to an impending issue with your water heater. If you notice any of these signs or anything else about the water heater that makes you feel uncomfortable, be sure to call a professional for a water heater repair service today.

Cold Water

While this is fairly obvious, it is still a very clear sign that it is time to call for water heater repair in Arlington, TX. If cold water is flowing out of your tap then the problem is coming from your water heater in one form or another. You can test if this problem is associated with a faucet or the entire home by turning on multiple taps and waiting for the water to heat up. If the water doesn’t warm after a few minutes you have a problem.

Ideally, water should actually warm in less than a minute, but some older systems do take a few minutes to funnel hot water up the pipes which can be acceptable for older homes in Arlington, TX. however, anything over two to three minutes is excessive and needs to be looked at.

Water Temperature Fluctuates

On the other hand, maybe you have hot water but you can’t depend on it. For instance, some showers may feel nice and toasty while a shower the very next time might never get warmer than lukewarm. Or perhaps you have hot water for five minutes one day and then 25 minutes the next day without any excessive water usage to explain the difference. When the water temperature starts to fluctuate on a regular basis this is a sign that something is going on with your water heater. A lot of times this is caused by mineral deposits, but there are a lot of other causes and they all need to be explored.

You Notice a Leak Near Your Water Heater

A leak is never a good sign when it comes to a water heater. Contrary to what some people seem to believe, it’s not normal for a little water to leak near a water heater. Just because the appliance deals with water does not mean that you should expect a bit of spillage. In reality, you should expect absolutely none.

It is a good idea to get in the habit of visually inspecting your water heater for leaks every couple of months or just whenever you happen to think about it while doing laundry. If you notice a leak then you need to call a local plumber for water heater repair right away. Leaks can not only possibly ruin your tank and lead to the growth of rust that cannot be repaired, but they can result in large amounts of water damage.

What may look like a small leak one day easily turns into a massive leak by the next day or a crack that ends in your tank emptying in your basement or utility closet. At this point, the water damage alone will be a very expensive issue to deal with and you will still need to replace the heater. Save yourself the hassle and always call for water heater repair if you notice any type of leak near the tank.

Drop In Water Pressure

Everyone likes a home with good water pressure. There is an entire industry built around making sure that there is shower pressure when you turn on the shower. If you have always enjoyed comfortable water pressure while in the shower but you are noticing that the water pressure keeps dropping then it is time to call for water heater repair.

Those pesky mineral deposits that sit on the bottom of your water tank are often responsible for messing up your water pressure. Removing the sediment in your water tank is all it generally takes to get your water pressure back so that showers are enjoyable again. Sometimes however the issue is not sediment and is actually caused by a bent distribution line, blocked line, or poor installation. In this case, the only way to get back your water pressure is by calling a professional to take a look at the problem.

Ready to schedule your annual service call or noticed one of the signs listed above? Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth can help. Give us a call and we will send a plumber out to your home for water heater repair and/or service right away.