How to avoid a cold shower

Here are four signs that your hot water system needs repairing or even replacing:

Your hot water system seems to leak a lot.

The pressure release valve is designed to let out a small amount of water out, but if it's more than that, it's time to act. If the leak is coming from the tank, then it could be corroded and need replacing. If the leak is coming from pipes or fittings, often these can be repaired or replaced.

You hear strange noises like creaking, cracking, or popping.

Scale has most likely built up at the bottom of your tank due to minerals in the water; the noises come from steam bubbles escaping from underneath the sediment when the water is heated.

The water coming out of your taps is discoloured or brown.

Corrosion in the hot water system will happen over time and this can result in rusty coloured water flowing through the taps, which can taste bad and discolour clothes. It's another sign that the hot water system is on the way out or at the very least needs the anodes replacing.

The pilot light keeps going out.

If the pilot light keeps going out or you can't relight it, it may be a faulty thermocouple. This stops the gas from flowing if the pilot light goes out. It may need a service or replacing.  As a rule, hot water storage systems will last 8-12 years and should be serviced every 2-3 years.

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