Signs Your Hot Water System Is Close to the End
How to tell when a hot water unit is failing, and how to plan a replacement before it leaves you cold.
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Rust and leaks
Water pooling around the base of a storage tank, or rust stains on the outer casing, usually mean the tank is corroding from the inside. A leaking tank cannot be repaired. Turn off the cold water inlet valve and the gas or power, and call for a replacement.
Noise
Rumbling, popping or crackling as the unit heats is caused by sediment at the bottom of the tank. It reduces efficiency and stresses the tank. In an older unit, it is a sign the end is approaching.
Less hot water than before
If the hot water runs out sooner than it used to, the unit may be losing efficiency, a part may be failing, or your household demand may have outgrown it.
Discoloured water
Brown or rusty water from the hot taps only suggests the tank is corroding inside.
Age
Most storage units last somewhere between eight and fifteen years. If yours is in that range and showing any of these signs, it is worth having it checked and planning a replacement.
Planning ahead
Replacing a unit before it fails lets you take time to choose the right system, whether that is like-for-like gas, continuous flow or a heat pump, rather than accepting whatever is available on a cold winter morning. We can assess your current unit and give you options.
Ferntree Gully ground and pipes
Ferntree Gully's ground changes as you climb towards the ranges: clay and silty loam on the lower streets, rockier, steeper ground near Upper Ferntree Gully and The Basin. Most homes built before the 1980s were connected with earthenware sewer pipe, and on a slope every joint moves a little over the years and lets roots in. Water service lines from the meter are often long and run through rocky ground or under established gardens. Stormwater has to be carried down the block and away from the house. We use cameras, locators and pressure tests to see what is happening before we dig.
Related services
- Emergency plumbing
- Blocked drains
- Hot water
- Gas fitting
- Hot water replacement
- Heat pumps
- Leaking taps
- Burst pipes
- Toilets
- Leak detection
- Pipe relining
- Stormwater
- Roof and gutters
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens and laundries
- Backflow and maintenance
More guides
Questions on this topic
How many years should a hot water system last?
Most storage units last between eight and fifteen years, depending on water quality, usage and maintenance.
Can a leaking hot water tank be repaired?
If the tank itself is leaking, no. A leaking valve or fitting can often be fixed, but a rusted tank needs replacing.
Why foothills homes call us
Foothills know-how
Sloping blocks, big gums, clay sewers and gas heaters from the 1970s: this is the plumbing we work on every day.
Price first, work second
A licensed plumber finds the fault and agrees a fixed price with you before anything starts.
Camera, not guesswork
Drain cameras, pressure gauges and leak detection tools show the real cause before we dig or replace.
Respect for your home
Boot covers, drop sheets, old parts taken away and the job tested with you.
Get a free quote
Tell us what is going on and a licensed Ferntree Gully plumber will call you back.
How quoting works
Ring 03 7036 4101 or send the form with a short note, and a photo if you have one. A licensed plumber calls you back, asks a few questions and books a time. On site they find the cause, explain your options and give you a fixed price. Nothing starts until you agree, and larger jobs get a free written quote.
Need a plumber in Ferntree Gully?
Ferntree Gully, Upper Ferntree Gully, Boronia, Rowville, Knoxfield and the Knox foothills. Quote-only: the plumber finds the fault, then gives you a fixed price.