Have you ever heard of a cold water sandwich? Even if you don’t know the meaning of the term, you’ve likely experienced it! When you’ve been washing your hands or showering in warm water only to be hit with a quick burst of icy cold water, that is a cold water sandwich. It happens when someone’s been doing lots of laundry or members of your household are taking hot showers back-to-back.
While this phenomenon should not be occurring often, it’s an example of one of the many ways your home’s hot water heater might be communicating its condition.
Even if you haven’t been eating too many cold water sandwiches lately, are you experiencing any of the other following water heater problems? While we have put together some common solutions, in some cases you may need to call a professional for repairs.
- Water Heater Leaks
- Odd or Loud Noises
- High Energy Bills, Lack of Hot Water
- Rust & Corrosion
Contact Green Group to diagnose and repair your hot water heater in Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, and surrounding areas.
Water Heater Leaks
Hot water heater leaks can happen for a number of reasons, some of which may be easy to pinpoint and diagnose on your own.
The simplest leak to fix is loose connections; just like a dripping faucet needs a quick tighten, tightening the connections on your water heater’s inlet and outlet valves can fix the drip in no time. On the other hand, a leak that is springing from a crack in your water heater can be more challenging to repair on your own.
Odd or Loud Noises
If your water heater has suddenly become very noisy, don’t ignore it! Banging and popping are often indicators of too much sediment build-up in the bottom of the water heater tank. When sediment accumulates, it can react with the heating element and cause mini-explosions.
Thankfully, this sounds worse than it actually is! The easiest way to address a noisy water heater is to drain the water heater so the sediment can empty from the tank. Flushing out your water heater at least twice a year is a good rule of thumb in general.
If you find that sediment build-up is not the problem, however, another potential reason behind a noisy hot water heater is what is known as water hammer. Water hammer is a more serious issue and occurs when water floods through your pipes too quickly after the water supply has been turned off. A plumber will likely need to adjust your water heater’s pressure valve and drain the water tank to fix it.
High Energy Bills, Lack of Hot Water
If you’ve received another costly energy bill, and if you’ve also begun to notice the water isn’t as hot as it used to be, your hot water heater is likely the culprit. There could be a number of reasons for this, but a few include:
- The tank is too small for the size of your home.
- There might be an issue with the heating elements.
- The pilot light may have gone out.
- The water heater (if it is a traditional tank heater) is more than 10-years-old.
If you really want to optimize your water heater’s efficiency, installing a tankless water heater is a sure-fire way to save on your home’s energy bills and prevent running out of hot water!
Rust & Corrosion
We had to break it to you, but if you’re noticing rust or corrosion on your traditional hot water heater, it may be time to accept that it is nearing its final days. More than likely the sediment that collects inside the bottom of the tank has eaten away at the base of the tank which, if it hasn’t already, can quickly translate to an ineffective water heater.
Want to make sure you avoid this worst case scenario? Make it a point to flush your water heater’s tank every 6 months to remove the sediment. Rinsing it with a mixture of bleach and water can also help clean the bottom and prevent mold.
No matter your particular scenario, every home needs a good and dependable water heater. And Green Group has the plumbers and expertise to help! Contact us today.
