Water heaters typically just operate in the background and are only paid attention to when you find your hot water supply is in jeopardy. These systems may be hardy, but without enlisting hot water services periodically, their lifespan becomes severely compromised. This decline tends to happen because issues that could have been addressed and remedied are left unattended, which inadvertently causes the steady deterioration of the appliance. Moreover, water heaters do have an estimated shelf life, and as they inch closer to the end of their lifespan, the less efficient they will be. So how can you tell if the replacement of your household's water heater is imminent?

A definite change in your water quality

A red flag that should never be ignored is when you notice abrupt changes in the quality of the water in your home. These changes can manifest in several ways.

First, you may start to notice that the water has a metallic aftertaste to it yet does not exhibit any physical changes in appearance. When your water starts to taste metallic, the likelihood is that there is some corrosion occurring in your plumbing system, which is exposing you and your loved ones to excessive minerals.

Second, you may find that your water has changed colour. Any brownish hue to the water supply also indicates severe corrosion and chances are you may have to replace your plumbing hardware too. Take note that corrosion only gets worse with time, so the sooner you seek the help of a plumber, the better it will be for your household in the end.

Perpetual puddling around the water heater

Another clear indicator of problems with your water heater is when you continually find water pooling around the system. Leakage from your water heater tends to signal that the structure of the tank itself is in jeopardy. If you have hard water, sediment is bound to start collecting inside the receptacle. The high temperatures gradually harden this sentiment while the boiling water flings it against the lining of your tank. As a result, cracks and fissures begin to form on the body of the water tank and water will steadily seep out of these holes.

Another reason why your water heater may start to leak is when one of the connections (either the inlet or the outlet) has acquired some damage. It will be critical to hire a water heater specialist to assess your tank and provide you with the best course of action to take.