Have you noticed over the last few days or weeks that your shower runs out of hot water sooner than it has in the past? If you don’t have a teenager visiting you, you may need to look at some other potential causes.

It might just be a buildup of rust and debris. This happens in virtually all hot water heaters. If you’ve never bled the outlet valve, it’s probably time to do so. Get a pan to put under the spigot and open the valve slowly. The water will be hot, so be careful. When you bleed the tank, you can expect the water to have a rusty tinge to it. If there’s a lot of rust in the water, that may be a sign that you need a new water heater. If yours is about 12-15 years old, it’s probably seen its best days.

Running out of hot water can also be a sign that there’s a leak somewhere in your hot water heater. Look to see if there’s a pool of water around the bottom of the tank. If so, you’ll need to call a plumber.

There are, however, other less obvious indications that your hot water heater might be leaking:

• If you’re not getting any hot water, you either have leak or your pilot light is out (if you have a gas water heater). Sometimes, a water leak can put out the pilot light
• Look to see if your temperature and pressure relief valve is dripping. This is a potentially dangerous situation, as it may indicate that the pressure is too high inside the water heater.
• Run your hand along the outside of the water heater. If you feel any dampness or wetness, there’s a leak somewhere.

Public Service Plumbers
5610 Dyer Street
Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 753-4633