SERVPRO Tips: Avoiding water damage from a failing water heater

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage from a broken water heater can ruin a home quickly. Fortunately, before they break, these appliances give off warning signs their service life is coming to an end.

Homeowners can avoid water damage from their hot water tank if they pay attention to some of the most common issues that arise before failure, such as:

• There is only cold water emitted from the tap.
• The water gets warm but never hot and goes cold quickly.
• The water heater rumbles or knocks
• The hot water has a muddy look from the tap.
• The water from the tank appears to be rusty.
• You notice a metallic smell or taste, especially when taking a shower or bath.
• There is noticeable water leaking from the water heater.
• Your water has a metallic smell or taste.
• Water is leaking around your water heater.

Expect a Large Amount of Water

A small water tank holds on average around 50 to 60 gallons of water; larger residential sizes run 80-gallons or more. Now, imagine that water on your floor. When the location of the tank is in an upper story in the home, the amount of water on the floor can quickly affect the ceiling and things in lower levels of the house. 

Common Issues to Avoid

Fast extraction is necessary to limit the damage to the home. SERVPRO technicians use their detection equipment to determine if the water is within the floor joists or wall cavities, requiring additional actions such as removal of baseboards or weep holes to assist with drainage. 

At the first sign of water damage, contact SERVPRO! The technicians are available 24/7 to restore your home to its preloss condition, "Like it never even happened."