How often do you think about your water heater in Vancouver?

Hot water tanks in Vancouver rank pretty near the bottom of any homeowner’s list of concerns, until—you guessed it!—no hot water comes out your tap. Or worse, your tank ruptures and leaves you with an expensive mess on your hands!

Let’s take a look at eight signs your Vancouver water heater may be in need of repair or replacement:

1. Age. Check your water heater’s warranty. If it’s getting close to expiring and you haven’t had any problems with it, then lucky you! But you should still have it inspected and maintained by a professional at Hillcrest Plumbing and Heating.
2. Leaking. If your Vancouver water heater is leaking but you can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from, it’s probably a deteriorated sidewall seam, or a rusted-through joint or steel thread. This is a disaster waiting to happen and needs your immediate attention! At Hillcrest Plumbing and Heating we offer same-day water heater repair and replacement.
3. Hot water not so hot anymore. This is a pretty sure sign corrosion inside your hot water heater has coated the elements, damaged your gas valve or deteriorated the dip tube. An inspection by a professional is definitely called for.
4. Small pieces of plastic in your faucet aerators—another bad sign. This probably means the dip tube inside your water heater is crumbling.
5. Drain valve blocked. Let’s say you’re performing your annual maintenance and nothing happens when you open the drain valve on your water heater. Not good! A thick layer of sediment is likely blocking the valve and it’s probably only a matter of time before the bottom falls out of your hot water tank in Vancouver.
6. Low or no pressure, or a short burst of pressure when you first open the hot faucet. This could mean a corroded cold water check valve. It can be replaced, but if there is enough corrosion to impede a check valve, it probably means the rest of the water heater is also in rough shape.
7. Connections on top of water heater are rusty. This can start happening suddenly and is a pretty sure sign the sacrificial anode rod inside your water heater is rusted through and no longer doing its job. This often happens near the end of the warranty period.
8. The temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve is releasing water. This could be symptomatic of either rust in the valve or overheating from sediment buildup.

Contact us at Hillcrest Plumbing and Heating for your Vancouver water heater repair, replacement or maintenance needs! We’re there 24/7 to handle your plumbing or heating emergency.