Top Reasons Why Water Heaters Fail in Santa Barbara
Perfect weather, beaches and the California easygoing lifestyle is to live in Santa Barbara. However, there is no better way to take away the mood than to take a shower in a cold drinking fountain because your water heater suddenly died.
Have you ever asked yourself why water heaters are such a failure in Santa Barbara? -You are not alone. We do have a beautiful coastal city, but in fact it has some challenges of its own that cause the work of water heaters to be more difficult and shorter-lived than in many other locations.
This is the good news: in the vast majority of cases, the malfunctioning of water heaters is prevented 100 percent, provided that you are aware of the issues to be followed. We will also step through the reasons why water heaters fail in the homes of Santa Barbara the most (and what you can do to prevent them failing on you).
Hard Water and Mineral Buildup: Santa Barbara’s Water Heater Killer
The water of Santa Barbara is reputedly hard. In other words, it contains calcium, magnesium and other minerals. Although these are not harmful minerals to drink, they are horrendous to your water heater.
The Tank Destroyer with Hard Water.
Each time your water heater is turned on, the minerals accumulate in the tank at the bottom of the tank in the form of sediment. This accumulation over time works like a blanket and as a result the process of heating the same amount of hot water requires your heater to work harder (and consume more energy). The sediment finally hardens to scale which can:
Break the lining of the tank of glass.
- Corrode the anode rod
- There are heating elements (which burn out) in the electric models.
- produce great popping or rumbling.
In severe circumstances, the tank may overheat and explode – which is not only costly but hazardous.
Prevention Tip: Install a Water Softener or Flush Yearly
The easiest fix? Professionally have a water heater flushed once annually. In less than an hour, a good plumber will be able to empty the tank, rinse out the sediment and verify that there has not been early damage.
And better still – get a whole-house water softener. Yes, it will be an initial cost, but will potentially double the life of your water heater, save your pipes, and make your skin and hair feel unbelievable.
Corrosion and Rust Never Sleep (Especially Near the Ocean)
We enjoy our stay near the beach, however, salt air is harsh to metal. Considering that your water heater can be located indoors, salty, humid air is introduced and accelerates rust and corrosion.
The Anode Rod: Your Water Heater’s Silent Protector
All tank-type types of water heaters have a sacrificial anode rod A metal rod that is meant to rust rather than your tank. It is as though it were a bodyguard taking the blow on the behalf of the team. But this is the issue, the majority of the population does not check it.
That anode rod will be fully eaten up in 3-5 years that we have such mineral-rich water and air in Santa Barbara.
Prevention Tip: Check Your Anode Rod Every 2–3 Years
Replacement of a new anode rod would require a cost of $30-50 and takes approximately 30 minutes. This is a very simple task that would easily increase the life of your water heater by 5-10 years.
Age: The Silent Countdown Most Homeowners Ignore
The mean life of the water heater is 8-12 years. Once that, there are more chances of failure coming to play- however well you are able to maintain it.
There are thousands of homes in Santa Barbara that were built in the 1970s, 80s and 90s that are currently running on borrowed time as they have a water heater that is on the verge of blowing up.
Warning Signs Your Water Heater Is Getting Old
The Water Heater in the Red Flags of a Slide.
- Keep an eye out for:
- Discolored rusty hot water.
- Abnormal sounds (popping, cracking, banging, etc.)
- Water at the lower tank.
- Lack of hot water (or it is too little)
- Increased-than-normal energy bills.
Prevention Tip: Plan Ahead Instead of Panicking Later
Write the date of installation of your water heater on your calendar (there is often a sticker on your tank). The replacement should be budgeted for about 10 years. A new consumption efficient model will save you money per month and ensure you have peace.
Temperature and Pressure Issues That Cause Big Problems
Bad things happen rapidly and you can only guess what they are, when the temperature or pressure of your water heater is too high.
The Unseen Menace of High Temperature Settings.
To have adequate supply of water, most house owners set the water heater to 140 degrees and above. Any higher than 120-125 o F will cause a huge increase:
- Risk of scaling (in particular among children and older adults).
- Energy use
- Based soil erosion and corrosion.
- Stress on the tank
The T&P Valve: Your Last Line of Defense
Each water heater is fitted with a temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P valve). In case the pressure is too high, this valve is expected to get water and avoid an explosion. However, when it is obsolete, rusted or full of minerals (which is very likely in Santa Barbara) it will not function at the moment you need it the most.
Prevention Tip: Test Your T&P Valve Yearly
For a few seconds lift the lever of the valve, you will hear some gurgling and you will see the flow of water in the drain pipe. In case nothing occurs, change the valve immediately.
Poor Installation or Wrong Size: Problems That Start on Day One
A small water heater that is not adequate to serve your family is going to run all the time and fail prematurely. One that has been installed wrong? Even worse.
- Installation errors that are common in the homes of Santa Barbara:
- None of the following are provided by code: no expansion tank (though most homes with water softeners have one or those with closed plumbing systems).
- Incorrect venting (particularly when the gas models are in use)
- None of the drip pan or drainage.
- Lost earthquake straps (massive problem in earthquake nation)
Prevention Tip: Always Hire a Licensed, Local Plumber
Find a person knowledgeable in the building codes of Santa Barbara and our local (specific) water quality problems. An appropriate installation is somewhat expensive but thousands less in repairs in the future.
Leaks: From Annoying Drips to Total Floods
Even minor leaks will turn to monsters in a short period of time.
Common Leak Sources in Santa Barbara Homes
- Loose or failing drain valve
- Top of tank corroded fittings.
- Fractured tank (typically due to age, and also due to sediment formation)
- Falling pressure relief valve.
Prevention Tip: Do a Quick Monthly Check
Set aside some time to make a monthly check under and around your water heater (30 seconds). A minor amount of moisture is normal due to the condensation, but puddles or continuous.
Tankless Water Heaters: Do They Really Last Longer in Santa Barbara?
There are quite a number of Santa Barbara house owners shifting to tankless (on-demand) water heaters and rightfully so.
The Hard Water Challenge for Tankless Units
The thing is here, tankless units are even more sensitive to hard water than to the regular tanks. Mineral deposition may ruin a tankless unit within a few years unless they are well maintained.
The Solution: Annual Descaling
The descaling (vinegar rinsing or special solution rinsing) of tankless water heaters should be done in Santa Barbara after every 12 months. Do that, and you can get your tankless to last 20 or more years and provide you with an inexhaustible supply of hot water.
Your Santa Barbara Water Heater Maintenance Checklist
This is your basic annual Santa Barbara Water Heater Maintenance checklist to follow so that you can stay inside the hot water:
- fill up tank (or descale tankless) once per 12 months.
- Test/change anode rod, after every 2-3 years.
- Test T&P valve yearly
- Inspect for leaks monthly
- maintain a clean and clear surrounding of the heater.
- Another criterion to take into account is a water softener in case of extremely hard water.
- Change water heater at 10-12 years (do not wait till it fails)
Final Thoughts: Enjoy Hot Showers Without the Worry
It may not be the most exciting thing in your Santa Barbara house, however, your water heater breaks, and you feel that the world has come to an end. The good news?
Practically all types of breakdowns that occur with water heaters in our area, sediment deposition, corrosion, old age, etc. can be avoided with some knowledge and routine care.
Don’t put off till you take that cold shower wake-up call. Maintenance of the water heater today will give you many years to come.
Requirement of servicing, repairing or replacing a water heater in Santa Barbara? Contact a local plumber in Santa Barbara who is known to be trusted with the issues in the coastal water and climate. You will be glad to be your future self (standing under a perfect hot shower)!
Call to action
The homeowners of Santa Barbara experience common problems with their water heaters – rusty, mineral deposits, and pressure damages.
Have a trained technician come in today to make sure the life of your heater is prolonged and eliminate any cases of emergency repairs.
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