Unless you want to find yourself without any hot water in the house, you will want to make sure that you are well aware of the signs that something is going wrong. This way, you will know just when it is time to call in a professional plumber (such as one from Anderson Water Systems). To help you with this, you can take a moment or two to review the following three warning signs of trouble.  

You Notice Dirty Looking Water

All houses will get dirty looking water from time to time, but this is usually the result of the town or city working on the main public water line. The dirty water usually clears up on its own after the work is completed. However, if there is no work taking place and your neighbors have clear water, the problem may be within your hot water tank. The water that is passing through it is collecting a lot of built up sediment and minerals, causing the water to change color. Your hot water tank may simply need to be completely drained and then refilled to remove the debris, or it could need to be replaced. A skilled plumber will help make that determination for you.

You Hear A Lot Of Clicking Noises

Hearing the occasional clicking sound coming from within your hot water tank is usually not a problem. This is generally nothing more than the heating element kicking back on. However, if this is a sound that is happening more often than not, it could be a sign that the heating element is starting to go bad. If the heating element is not replaced in the near future, you could find yourself without any hot water for the house.

You Spot Some Rust

Even the slightest bit of rust on the hot water tank or its pipes should not be ignored. If the rust were to be left alone, it will get worse until it finally breaks apart and you have scalding hot water everywhere. This is not only a major inconvenience, but it can be a hazard as well. Therefore, you will want to have an experienced plumber come to replace all rusted pipes and connection pieces. If the rust is developing on the tank itself, it is usually best to simply replace the entire hot water tank.

With those signs in mind, it should be rather easy for you to determine whether you need professional assistance with your hot water tank.