Summertime activities can increase demand on your water heater. While you should never try to repair your own water heater, recognizing some of the early signs of trouble and what they mean can help when you call for professional repair services.

Popping or Rumbling From the Tank

Popping and rumbling may occasionally happen, and it’s nothing to worry about. If you’re hearing these sounds frequently, you may have sediment building up on the bottom of the tank. Those noises could signify that you have water boiling under the sediment, which will cause a popping sound. On the other hand, if you have steam bubbles trapped in the sediment, you may hear rumbling noises.

The popping and rumbling mean that you need to have the tank flushed to remove the buildup. While there isn’t necessarily a way to troubleshoot this, you can figure out if it’s the problem by seeing if flushing the tank helps.

Failing Heating Element

Summer doesn’t cause your heating elements to fail. However, if you have one that’s failing, it may become more apparent during this time because your water heater doesn’t have to work as hard to heat the water. A failing element might also be more noticeable during this time when someone uses more hot water than usual. For instance, it might be noticeable when someone takes a long, hot shower that they may not be doing regularly during the summer. It could also be obvious when someone is using multiple appliances at once.

If a heating element is failing, you may notice any of the following:

• Running out of hot water more quickly than usual
• Noticing the breaker keeps tripping, or the fuse keeps blowing
• Having warm water instead of hot
• Experiencing water temperature fluctuations

If you’re comfortable replacing the elements, you can do so. You’ll first want to see if either element is bad; it may have heavy mineral buildup, discoloration, burn marks, warping, cracks, or corrosion.

Leaking Temperature & Pressure Valve

You might see some dripping or occasional pressure releases during the warmer months because of the temperature changes. You can clean out the debris and see if that helps. On the other hand, if it’s a major leak, that’s a job for a professional.

These are some of the most common issues with your water heater that you’ll encounter over the summer. Sometimes, you can take steps to correct them, while other times you may need to call in a specialist. If you have concerns or require water heater services, contact Red’s On Time Plumbing in Atascadero, CA.