When a water heater bursts, the resulting consequences can be serious. However, most of the time, a water heater bursting is due to an underlying cause. Knowing this, it is safe to say that most accidents can be preventable. Being aware of what caused the mishap will help you prevent it from happening again in the future.
Burst Water Heater Causes: When to Call a Plumber
There are some situations that you can handle on your own. However, it may benefit you more to hire the services of a plumber on other occasions. Here are some of the causes of burst water heaters and how to handle the situation.
1 – Air Pressure Problems
Problems with air pressure may cause all sorts of problems for a water heater. People who take showers with the dial cranked up to the hottest setting may encounter this problem. This is because very high temperatures can cause air pressure problems in the inner workings of the water heater and may put it at risk of exploding.
2 – Age
Age is a factor that may affect even the most well-maintained water heaters. When a water heater reaches eight years old, the chances of something going wrong with it will increase. Once your heater hits that age, you should consider having it replaced to prevent any future problems, even if it still works well. Having it replaced sooner rather than later will ensure that no harm will come to anyone who uses it.
3 – Rust
Modern water heaters are not made of metal to prevent rust from forming on them. However, the problem is that some of the main parts of the water heater are still made of materials that may succumb to corrosion in the long run. The main problem of modern water heaters is that any rust damage may not be immediately apparent. This will make it difficult to know when to fix the problem (or even that the problem actually exists in the first place.)
4 – Sediments
The hard water that flows through pipes and ultimately into the water heater has mineral sediments that can damage the machine. Even the most advanced filtration systems will not be able to keep all of these minerals out. There will still be some sediments that will enter the water heater, which will damage it slowly but surely.
Conclusion
You will be able to anticipate the potential problems your water heater may have, depending on how you have maintained your water heater over the years. If it is a well-maintained heater, the only problem you might have to deal with is the effects of aging.
You can also read helpful tips online from reliable sources. If all else fails, it is a good idea to call a plumbing service to help identify and evaluate your water heater’s problem. They will be able to diagnose the problems and offer solutions that can get rid of these problems. If your water heater is beyond repair, they will also be able to replace it for you.
Plumber Charlotte aims to provide Charlotte area residents with educational information and tips and tricks about all things plumbing. If you need tips for residential and commercial plumbing in Charlotte, visit our site!