Salinas has a variety of problems that crop up with water heaters. One of the most common is just a simple lack of hot water. This could mean that your heating element has burned out or that your thermostat has gone faulty. It's been my experience that many water heater repairs can be traced back to sediment. You know, the stuff that falls out of water when it's heated. Hot water holds less dissolved material than water that is just warm or cool. All of that stuff settles in the bottom of your tank and won't come back into suspension until the water is hot enough to make it buoyant again. This leaves you with an almost eerily quiet tank (that you can hear a little bit in between the unusual silences of your water heater that are more common when it's running full blast) and a situation that much more urgently calls for a pro than a simple lack of hot water does.
A common problem that we see often involves the water heater making strange noises. These weird sounds are generally an early indication of something going awry. This problem's cause can vary, but if you hear clanking, popping, or grinding, it's a good sign that there are mineral deposits in the tank causing it to go into overdrive—and this overdrive situation could be leading the system to overheat. If you're hearing the system struggle to maintain proper temperature, it could also be a sign that the pressure relief valve is on the fritz. And if that valve's in trouble, well, let's just say that ignoring that kind of auditory signal is not a good idea from a safety standpoint. Getting professional help quickly is the only way to ensure both your safety and the system's correct functioning.
At last, water heater leaks are yet another urgent matter for Salinas residents, who are already contending with an array of plumbing problems. Because the region's water is so mineral-rich, it's especially tough on appliances. That could be one reason the water heater has developed a leak. But several other factors could also be in play. The leak might be coming from the tank itself, a plumbing joint, or a connection that has just decided now is a good time to let loose.
Ignoring any of these leaks could have serious consequences. Water can get just about anywhere, and it really knows how to do a number on wood and drywall. And when you consider how much energy is wasted when hot water escapes the system and how much water is wasted when any plumbing leak occurs, well, let's just say that several hundred dollars could be at stake here, especially over months and years of allowing things to remain unchecked.
