Water Heater Failure Signs, Causes, and Solutions

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Explore early water heater failure signs and causes, and see what you can do to prevent, fix, and protect the heating system.

Extend the water heater's life and avoid cold showers by eliminating the problems related to thermal expansion, undersized tank, sediment deposits, and deteriorated anode rod.

Signs of water heater failure

It is good to know that you can avoid broken heater, damages, expensive replacements and repairs. The best way is when you identify early signs of water heater failure.

So, what are the first signs of a water heater going bad?

• Noise
• Discolored water
• Smell
• Leaks
• Significantly reduced energy efficiency
  
• Frequent problems
• Age
  

If you are asking yourself - are water heaters repairable? The answer is, yes, they are.

But more importantly is to take action quickly with the first signs of a water heater failure.

Some of these problems are easy to fix, while some require more time, knowledge, proper skills, and the right tools.

Note: For the correct, fast and safe repair of the broken water heater, the recommendation is to contact a professional plumber.

Water heater noise

When your water heater is working, it is normal to hear sounds like humming, but some noises can indicate that something is wrong.

Sounds like hissing, ticking, rumbling, and similar are often annoying but also indicators that the problem might be serious, so it needs to be investigated.

For example, the most common reasons for popping and crackling sounds are sediment build-up, water hammer for the pounding noise, or condensation when you hear sizzling. Use this article to find more informatic about various water heating noises and repair tips.

Discolored and rusty water

Discolored and rusty water is a sign of corrosion, sediment deposits, and deteriorated sacrificial anode rods. When the rod is depleted to the point when it is not efficient anymore, metal parts such as the tank will start corroding, making water brownish or muddy-looking.

Rotten egg smell

Another problem associated with the anode rod performance is the sulfur or rotten eggs smell. So if there is a stinky smell coming out of your water heater, your anode might be failing.

Water heater leaking

Whether your water heater is "dripping" from the valve or there is a large puddle of water on the floor, these are indications that your unit is leaking, that you should identify the cause and fix the problem as soon as possible.

Significantly reduced energy efficiency or performance

If you see your energy bill increasing significantly, hot water running out quickly, or water never getting hot enough, it is time to check elements such as a dip tube, thermostat, and heating elements and replace them if needed.

Or, maybe your water heater needs draining and flushing because the tank is full of mineral deposits. Mineral accumulation inside the tank would leave less space for hot water or cover the heating elements, so they cannot transfer enough heat to the water.

Frequent problems

There are many signs of hot water heater failure, some more and some less obvious. Yes, most of these problems can be fixed, but what if it happens too often. When to say: enough is enough!

If you find your water heater giving you more headaches than hot water... then it is time to replace it.

Water heater is old

Typically water heaters with a storage tank last 10-15 years, tankless even longer. But eventually, as they approach their life expectancy, they will start losing functionality, performance, and efficiency, heating less and less water and becoming expensive to run.

That is why it is important to notice those signs that your water heater will fail.

Getting a new high-efficiency water heater will ensure reliable hot water delivery and help you save money.

Common causes of the premature water heater failure

We all like long hot showers at the end of the long day, and we take them for granted, thinking they will never fail us.

Unfortunately, water heaters can stop heating anytime and suddenly and there are various reasons.

Here are some of the critical ones:

• Thermal expansion
• Improper water heater sizing
• Bad cathodic protection of the tank and other elements
• Heavy mineral deposits 

Water heater fails due to thermal expansion

The thermal expansion occurs when the water temperature inside the water heating system rises, so the water expands and volume increases. Extremely high temperatures and pressure values inside the water heater tank can cause the leaky TPR valve, bulging heater, and deformations.

Water tank heaters are designed to withstand an internal pressure of up to 300 psi, but if the pressure exceeds this value, bulging will occur, followed by the deformation of the tank and its elements (such as nipples, flue tube,) or rupture of the welds and joints.

The fix for the extremely high thermal expansion is installing the correctly sized expansion tank, which will maintain constant and safe water pressure. Such small expansion vessels are mandatory for heaters installed in the closed systems. If you don't install one, the manufacturer has the right to void the warranty.

To avoid failure, make sure that the supply water pressure does not exceed 60 psi, otherwise, a pressure reducing valve is recommended.

Undersized water heater can cause problems

The improperly sized water heater is usually the primary cause of the heavy condensation and rusting, including premature heater failure.

Condensation is normal, but heavy condensation is not. An extensive condensation and acidic condensate dripping on the burner and other elements will cause corrosion, create leaks, affect the performance, and shorten the unit life.

The fix for this problem is to size the unit properly, including the right storage capacity and recovery rate. Read this guide to learn how properly to size a water heater properly.

Cathodic protection failing

Every water tank heater, either gas-powered or electric, is equipped with an anode rod. The anode is used to protect the metal tank from aggressive water heater conditions or corrosive action.

The current derived from this rod makes the inner metal tank surface cathodic, therefore, protecting it from the chemical reaction with water ions and rusting.

If the rod is depleted or removed, the steel tank won't have such protection (actually only the glass lining), and it will eventually corrode.

The regular maintenance which will include visual inspection, cleaning, and replacement, is recommended.

Hot water heater failure due to mineral buildup

Hard water, which is found in almost any region, can cause heavy mineral deposits and sediment or limescale buildup on the heater's components.

Water softeners are often recommended to deal with such a problem, but it should be considered its detrimental effect on the anode rods. Due to the rapid anode consumption, the rod should be inspected more often.

Limescale and mineral deposits on the heater's components and bottom will definitely clog the narrow water passages and reduce heat transfer and efficiency.

Instead of using water softeners, it is recommended to regularly perform a deliming and flushing procedure to remove the mineral buildup and further water heater failure.

Should I replace my water heater before it fails?

It is important to know that the life expectancy of a water tank heater is somewhere between 10 and 15 years, and it depends on the unit's design, element quality, water quality, installation, and usage.

In addition to that, note that the standard warranty is 6 years while better-built models offer 12 years.

So, when is the right time to replace a water heater?

Before it fails, or wait until it dies?

If your water heater is over 10 years old, and showing signs of age, such as rusty water, reduced performance, low efficiency, higher energy bills, or even leaks, replace it. It is better to get a new one and prevent property damage. Plus, you will have enough time to get familiar with other, even better options, such as installing a tankless.

If you wait until the unit dies, you might end up without hot water for days or until your plumber comes. Or, even worse - end up with severe water damage and health risk due to mold and mildew growth.

Dealing with hot water heater failure

So, if your water heater gives you only cold water, not enough hot water, makes a strange noise, water is discolored, or has a weird taste and smell, it might be failing. Or it is just nearing the end of its life and needs some care.

As there are many reasons for premature water heater failure, you should not ignore signs of a unit going out. More is to be found in this troubleshooting guide.