Your water heater works hard to supply you with hot water when you need it, but you probably don't give much thought to the condition of your heater. You know you need to call a plumber if your heater fails and you're suddenly without hot water, but there are other signs of problems to know about, especially the signs that indicate your water heater could become dangerous due to increased pressure in the tank. Here are signs your water heater needs to be checked by a plumber and when calling a 24-hour plumber is a good idea.

Signs Your Water Heater Needs Attention

The obvious signs your heater needs to be repaired are when you have no hot water or when the water temperature is erratic. Another sign is when the water coming from the hot faucet has debris in it or a foul odor. The water heater might also make popping, clanging, and gurgling noises that indicate something is wrong with the heater internally.

Signs Your Water Heater Needs A 24-Hour Plumber

If your water heater is leaking water on the floor and you don't know how to stop it, you may need to call a 24-hour plumber so the entire tank of water doesn't leak out on your floor. However, the most dangerous problem for your water heater is when the pressure gets too high. This can happen when the temperature in the tank gets too high because someone changed the setting or because the thermostat malfunctioned.

Your tank has safety features that prevent pressure from building so high the tank explodes. One of those is the pressure relief valve which is on the side of the water tank. If it's dripping water, that could be a sign the pressure in the tank is too high. Water and pressure leaking from the valve might prevent the tank from exploding when the valve functions properly. A worse situation is if the pressure builds and it can't escape through the valve.

If you have reason to believe the pressure in your water tank is too high due to the water being too hot or the pressure valve spewing water, call a 24-hour plumber and explain your problem. They might advise you to turn the heater off if you know how. They may also check on the water heater to see what's going on with it and what needs to be repaired.

Another time it's essential to call a 24-hour plumber is when the area near your water heater has a foul odor that smells somewhat like rotten eggs. Turn the gas off if you know how and call a plumber right away, as this could mean you have a gas leak or other problem with the natural gas in your water heater.

If you think you need a plumber right away, call a 24/7 plumbing company, such as Affordable Rooter Service, in your area.