Water heaters are one of those home essentials we rarely think about—until something goes wrong. You expect a nice, warm shower, and suddenly it feels like someone dumped a bucket of ice water on you. Or maybe you walk into your garage and find a puddle that definitely wasn’t there before. That’s when you remember that trusty water heater!
Most water heaters are pretty straightforward and have only a few warning signs when they’re on their last leg. The two most common types are electric and gas, but with technology advancing, there are now several different kinds available.
Here are a few simple ways to troubleshoot your water heater and find out if your home might need a new one:
1) Check the power source!
Make sure your water heater is properly connected to its power supply. A loose plug or tripped breaker could be the only issue.
2) Rusty water = rusty tank.
If your hot water is coming out rusty, it’s likely the inside of your heater has started to corrode - time to replace it before it leaks!
3) Try resetting the thermostat.
Sometimes a simple reset is all it takes to get your water heater working again.
4) Replace a faulty thermostat or heating element.
If resetting doesn’t help, the thermostat or element might be the culprit.
5) Flush the tank to remove sediment.
Over time, sediment builds up at the bottom of your tank and reduces efficiency. If it can’t be flushed out, your tank may be too corroded and in need of replacement.
6) Check the age of your water heater.
Most water heaters last 8-10 years. To find out how old yours is, check the label and decode the serial number. Here’s a quick guide for some of the most common brands:
o Rheem or Ruud:
Example: 0585A35604 → May 1985 (MMYYPnnnnn)
▪ MM = month of manufacture
▪ YY = year of manufacture
o AO Smith and American:
Example: 9705123445 or M07A127970 → 12th week of 2007 (xYYxWWxxxx) ▪ YY = year of manufacture
▪ WW = week of manufacture
o Bradford White:
Example: BH6511396 → August 2005 (YMxxxxxxx)
▪ First letter = year
▪ Second letter = month
Use this decoder:
▪ Year: G=1990, H=1991, J=1992, K=1993, L=1994, M=1995, N=1996, P=1997, S=1998, T=1999, W=2000, X=2001, Y=2002, Z=2003, A=2004, B=2005, C=2006, D=2007
▪ Month: A=Jan, B=Feb, C=Mar, D=Apr, E=May, F=Jun, G=Jul, H=Aug, J=Sept, K=Oct, L=Nov, M=Dec
If your water heater is showing any of these signs-or if it’s just getting up there in age-it might be time to call in the pros.
At Options Plumbing, we specialize in water heater repair and replacement. Whether your system needs a quick fix, a full replacement, or an upgrade to a tankless model, our friendly and professional team will get your hot water flowing again fast.
Call Options Plumbing today - your trusted local plumbing experts proudly serving Red Oak, Waxahachie, Midlothian, Granbury, Ellis and Hood County and surrounding areas!
