Is Sedimentation Doing a Number on Your Water Tank?

Water contains a number of common constituents, like magnesium, calcium, sodium chloride and sulphate. The water that flows into your home is specially treated to ensure that it meets certain safety standards, and while this is a good idea for the people on your property, it's not such a good idea for your hot water heater. What kind of damage can minerals cause over time, and why do you need to take steps to counter this threat?

Sedimentation

Problems arise as soon as you start to heat the water in your tank. The minerals will naturally gravitate to the bottom of the tank and will start to coagulate. They will turn into sediment that will cover the bottom of the tank and, in time, will start to affect the heating elements as well. If the elements become covered in sedimentation, they will be less effective than they used to be, and your water temperature will suffer.

Trapped Air Vibrates

As the situation gets progressively worse and the sedimentation gets thicker, it can actually trap some air beneath it. When the temperature of the water reaches a certain level, air bubbles will form in that trapped water and then start to vibrate. This explains why you may hear some strange tapping, cracking or popping noises when you are in the shower. It's due to the agitation of the water as it tries to escape from beneath the sedimentation.

Adding Insult to Injury

While your water may not be as hot as you would like, you may end up paying more for it on your monthly bill. It's costing you more to heat the water as the system tries to reach the nominated temperature but may be less able to do so.

Regular Servicing

Periodically, you should get a plumber to service your tank. They have tools that enable them to flush the system and clean the sedimentation out at the same time. This is well worth doing to maintain your ideal temperature and help you reduce your energy bill simultaneously.

Tank Replacement?

However, a heating tank is not designed to last forever, and the flushing technique may eventually not be enough. In this case, you have to get the hot water tank replaced, and if you have had the original for some time, then you should be able to take advantage of the latest technology. After all, modern-day tanks use upgraded materials and may last longer.

For more information about hot water replacement, contact a local plumber.