6 Reasons Why Water Heaters Fail

Water heaters last on average between eight and 12 years. Eventually, they will fail and there are many reasons why they fail.

These reasons why can give you knowledge to help put off that failure, or give you signs that it’s time to get in touch with Bottini to either repair or upgrade your water heater.

1. Sediment. Do you have hard water in your home that is going to your water heater? That can lead to sediment build-up at the bottom of the tank and clog water passages, setting up a water heater failure.
2. Internal corrosion. Inside your water heater tank is an anode rod. It’s often called a sacrificial anode because it’s there to corrode to prevent corrosion on the inside of your water heater tank. If you haven’t been checking the anode rod every year as you should, the consequence could be corrosion inside your water heater tank that can cause your water heater to fail.
3. Incorrect water pressure. Too-high water pressure can cause damage to not only your water heater, but the pipes and the appliances that use hot water like your dishwasher or washing machine. Water pressure should be no higher than 80 psi. How do you know if your water pressure is too high? Check to see if water is leaking from the overflow pump on the side of your water heater. That’s a sign of too-high water pressure and a sign your water heater could fail sooner rather than later.
4. Improper venting. If you see burn marks on the outside of your water heater, it means that exhaust or gas fumes aren’t being vented out of your home. That’s dangerous because it can create a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas, inside your home.
5. A water heater that’s not big enough. Once, your hot water heater was enough for your hot water needs. But if you’ve added another bathroom or more appliances that use hot water like a dishwasher, or if you have more people living in your home, it may be working too hard to provide you with hot water. That overuse can accelerate your water heater failing.
6. Old age. If your water heater is in the eight to 12 years range, or older, you have to start planning for replacing it. But it’s also an opportunity to invest in energy efficiency and comfort if you upgrade to a tankless water heater! Not only do they have a longer life expectancy, you get endless hot water, on-demand!

If you’re seeing any of these signs of trouble with your water heater, don’t wait! Contact Bottini Fuel for a service call.