Your water heater is the unsung hero of your plumbing system, tucked away in your basement or garage and never given much thought. We don’t pay much attention to it unless our warm shower turns icy cold.

The fact that our water heaters are so often out of sight, and therefore out of mind, means that a water heater leak can occur and it could be weeks before you realize anything is wrong. By that point, a small leak will have turned into a big deal.

Find out just how much of a disaster a leaking water heater can be really be, and why you should take steps to stop leaks before they occur.

Water Heater Damage

When a water heater starts to go belly-up, a big water leak is one of the main symptoms. While it’s easy to catch a leak in your bathroom or in your kitchen, it can take a long time to notice one with your water heater. But even a small leak can lead to serious damage to your floors, subfloors, and walls to say nothing of the damaged personal items it can destroy. A water leak like that can cost hundreds of dollars in damages.

That water leak can also be a major health hazard, due to the mold and mildew that can sprout. Mold can develop under ideal circumstances — in as little as 48 hours. Now imagine if you’ve had an unknown leak for a month – that’s a lot of mold! That kind of mold not only does structural damage to your house, but it can exacerbate allergies and asthma.

water leak

Now that we have your attention, we need to ask, how do we keep this from happening to us?

Know the Signs Your Water Heater May Die

It’s important to learn the noticeable signs that something might not be quite right.

  • Water doesn’t get as hot as it used to.
  • The water coming from your faucet has rust in it.
  • Your hot water has a metallic taste.
  • The water heater makes cracking and popping sound.
  • There’s rust on the outside bottom of your water heater.
  • The water tank is leaking.

The only problem is that knowing the signs still might not be enough to prevent expensive, mold-spreading damage. So how can you be sure to fix a problem that you don’t know if you have?

Team with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

It might be time to replace your water heater, but how will you know? Call the professionals at Benjamin Franklin to inspect your heater to find out if it’s time for a new one.

They help you get the right tank for your family and install it, making the whole experience as painless as possible. That means you never have to go a day without your unsung hero and your hot showers. A leaking water heater can cause expensive and frustrating damage to your home. Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of a crisis to act.

Contact us to inspect, service, and your water heater.