Keep your home safe and watch out for dangerous old water heaters.
When you turn on the tap, you don’t think twice about the hot water. You don’t think about the water heater that warms up the water and then delivers steaming H2O to your faucet. We take advantage of the water heater. However, we don’t always pay as much attention as we should to our water heaters. While they may seem harmless, an old water heater can be extremely dangerous, especially if it’s so old that it’s missing a safety-release valve. From a flood to an explosion, don’t let your old water heater endanger your family. Inspect your water heater, and check out the warning signs of an old water heater.
Age.
Check to see how old your water heater is. Don’t remember when you bought it? Fear not! The serial number on the water heater will help you determine when the water heater was manufactured. The first three characters will indicate which month and year the heater was manufactured. The letter’s position in the alphabet corresponds to the month number. For example, “C” is the third letter of the alphabet and so it means it was manufactured in March since March is the third month of the year. The next two numbers indicate what year the heater was made. Generally, it’s a good idea to replace your water heater every ten years or so to avoid any hazards.
Color.
Rusty water is never a good sign. While it could be your pipes, if you notice it when using hot water, it’s most likely your water heater. Old heaters can rust from the inside out, which increase your risk for a leak. Test to see if it’s really coming from your water heater by draining a few gallons from the heater and inspecting the color. If they’re all rusty, then it’s time to replace your water heater.
Noise.
Loud bangs and rumbling can be a sign of a hard sediment layer on the bottom of your water heater. The sediment not only hinders the efficiency of the water heater, but it also indicates a sign of weak metal, putting you at a greater risk for a leak.
Play it safe and replace your water heater at least every ten years. For assistance with all your plumbing needs, contact the experts at Thousand Oaks Plumbing. Located in Thousand Oaks, California we help the Conejo Valley, Ventura County, and San Fernando Valley with all their water conservation and plumbing needs.
