Most of the emergency water heater calls we take in Somerville and Greater Boston follow the same script: the tank had been making noise for months, there was a little rust in the hot water, and then one morning the basement floor was wet. A tank water heater typically lasts eight to twelve years, and the warning signs show up well before the end.
The first sign is noise. A rumbling or popping sound when the burner fires means sediment has built up on the bottom of the tank and the water underneath it is boiling. The second is discolored or metallic-tasting hot water, which usually means the inside of the tank is rusting. The third is water that runs out faster than it used to, another symptom of sediment taking up space. The fourth is moisture around the base or on the fittings, and the fifth is simply age: if the label shows a manufacture date more than ten years ago, plan on a replacement.
If you notice a leak from the tank itself, as opposed to a fitting or the relief valve, the tank is done. Shut off the cold-water supply valve above the heater and, on a gas unit, turn the gas control to off, then call. A leak from a valve or a connection can often be repaired, and a failed thermocouple, element, or thermostat is a straightforward fix on a tank that is otherwise sound.
Replacement is usually finished the same day. We size the new unit for your household, bring the venting, gas or electrical connection, expansion tank, and relief valve up to current code, and haul the old tank away. Homes without a chimney can use a power-vent model, and many customers choose a tankless unit that frees up floor space and never runs out. Garcia Services HVAC handles no-hot-water calls 24 hours a day, and every new water heater we install comes with its first maintenance visit free.