Hard Water and Water Heater Failure

Hard water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium. When it is heated, those minerals drop out and settle at the bottom of the tank as sediment. The burner or lower element then has to heat through a layer of rock-like scale, which overheats the tank bottom and speeds corrosion. Fittings, valves and supply lines also build scale and wear faster.

Popping or rumbling sounds as water heats, rusty hot water, water around the base, rust on the tank or fittings, and a tank older than about eight to ten years are all signs to plan a replacement. In hard-water areas, tanks often fail earlier than the usual estimates.

Many manufacturers recommend draining a few gallons from the tank once a year to flush sediment. Follow the manual, or ask a plumber to show you. A tank that has never been flushed may have too much sediment to clear, and the valve may clog; in that case, ask a plumber.

Tanks have an anode rod that corrodes instead of the tank. Hard water and softened water both affect how fast it wears. A plumber can check and replace it, which can add years to a tank.

A softener removes much of the hardness and protects fixtures and water heaters. It adds its own leak risks: bypass valves, fittings and brine tank overflows. Check around it when you check the water heater.

Many Avondale homes have water heaters in the garage, which limits damage. Others have them in an interior closet next to bedrooms or a hallway. A failure there sends water under walls into carpet and tile. A drain pan, a leak sensor and an automatic shut-off valve are cheap protection.

Close the cold water valve above the tank, turn off power or set gas to off as the label says, and keep water away from finished floors. Then call. See AC and water heater leaks.

Tankless heaters hold less water and cannot flood a room all at once, but they also scale up in hard water and need descaling. Ask a plumber which suits your home.

High water pressure and thermal expansion stress tanks and fittings. A plumber can check pressure and install or test a pressure-reducing valve and expansion tank. These small parts protect the heater and every fixture in the house.

The temperature and pressure relief valve has a pipe running toward the floor or outside. Water dripping from it can mean pressure or temperature is too high, or that the valve is failing. Have a licensed plumber look at it.

A planned replacement lets you choose the right size and type, add a pan and shut-off valve and avoid an emergency call. Waiting until the tank fails usually costs more, especially if water reaches carpet or drywall.

Renters should report rust, noise or drips at the water heater to the landlord right away and know where its cold water valve is.

Hard water also scales faucet cartridges, toilet fill valves, washer inlet valves and ice maker lines. Plastic supply lines and fittings become brittle with age. Replace toilet and sink supply lines with braided steel every several years.

If water reached a gas water heater's burner or controls, do not relight it. Have it checked first.

A plumber repairs or replaces the heater. For water on floors, walls and under cabinets, call (623) 269-9046 for a restoration provider.

A small battery leak alarm on the floor by the tank costs little and sounds when water appears. Some models connect to your phone or to an automatic shut-off valve that closes the water supply, which can turn a flood into a small puddle.

Age near or over ten years, rust at the base, rusty hot water, frequent relief valve drips and popping noises are all signs to plan a replacement.

Sediment from hard water settles at the bottom of a tank, which makes the burner or element work harder, causes popping sounds and wears the tank faster. Flushing a few gallons out of the drain valve once or twice a year removes some of it. If the tank has never been flushed and is many years old, ask a plumber before trying, since an old valve can stick or leak once opened.

Know your tank's age, flush it, watch for rust and noise, and replace it before it fails.

Questions about hard water and water heater failure? Call (623) 269-9046 to reach a local Avondale provider, 24 hours a day.