Having access to hot water in our home is not something we give much consideration to. However, water heaters only last about a decade before beginning to show signs of age, which can limit its effectiveness and give you the horror of a shockingly cold shower. Don’t let your water heater get to this point before consulting a plumber — the professionals at The Plumbing Source urge homeowners to be mindful of their water heaters and understand the early signs of failure.

Serving Cleveland, OH, and the surrounding suburbs since 1985, the team at The Plumbing Source has worked hard to become the area’s leading plumber of choice. Over the years, they’ve responded to emergencies from homeowners who realized they were suddenly lacking hot water, and in many of these cases there was no “suddenly” about it.

Understanding the warning signs of early water heater failure will prepare you for the inevitable. The Plumbing Source offers three helpful tips to understanding the end stages of water heaters:

• Aging Unit: Keep records of the last time you replaced your water heater. If you purchase a home, do all you can to determine the age of the appliance. Once it hits the 10-year mark, a water heater has reached the end of its lifespan and could fail at any moment.
• Foul Smelling Water: Particles naturally form in the water heater and fall to the bottom of the tank. These particles can sit for years if the unit is not properly maintained. This can contribute to internal rusting that comes through your taps while using the hot water.
• Noisy Operation: Another side effect of sentiment in tanks is that it causes the unit to be noticeably louder. Not only is this annoying, but it can also increase utility bills because it requires more energy to work effectively.

Also, to maintain and prolong the life of the water heater, we recommend to change the Anode Rod every 3 -5 years which is located within the water tank.  Its purpose is to attract any impurities in the water and attached itself to the rod.  It is when the “rod” becomes ineffective then the impurities in the water begin to attack the water heater itself.  It is at this point when the popcorn sound begins. 

Once you’ve concluded that your water heater is on its last legs, consult the experts of The Plumbing Source. With competitive prices and quality workmanship, they’ll work to get your water heater replaced before you’re subjected to cold showers. For more information on their services, give them a call at (877) 768-7239 or visit their website. You can also connect with the company on Facebook.