Gas Water Heater Repair & Installation in Hiram, GA

Brown or orange tint in the hot water, but not the cold, is a warning many Hiram homeowners notice before anything else goes wrong with a gas water heater. Alpha Plumbing and Sewer treats rusty hot water as a reason to look inside the tank, because it can mean anything from a worn anode rod to a tank that is starting to fail.

Hot side, cold side or both?

Run the cold water at a tub spout for a minute, then the hot. If only the hot water is discolored, the heater is the likely source. If both are tinted, the cause is more likely in the water supply or the house piping, such as aging galvanized pipe that corrodes from the inside, and heater work will not solve it. In that case, whole house repiping or a look at the main water line may be the better conversation.

How the anode rod protects a tank

A steel tank lined with glass would eventually rust at any tiny gap in the lining. To prevent that, manufacturers install an anode rod, usually magnesium or aluminum, threaded into the top of the tank. The rod corrodes in place of the steel, giving itself up slowly over the years. Once it is mostly consumed, the tank starts to corrode instead, and rusty water is often the first sign.

Signs the anode is spent or the tank is rusting

• Rust-colored hot water, especially the first draw in the morning.
• Rust flakes or reddish sediment when the drain valve is opened.
• Corrosion around the hot outlet fitting on top of the tank.
• Rust streaks or dampness at the base of the heater.

The first two may still be caught early enough for an anode change. The last often means the tank has already been breached.

Inspecting and replacing the anode

Checking the anode means shutting off the gas and water, relieving pressure and unscrewing the rod from its port on top of the heater; on some models it is built into the hot outlet fitting instead. A rod worn down to its core wire, or with long bare stretches, should be replaced. Overhead room can be a hurdle, since a rigid rod needs clearance above the tank, while a segmented or flexible rod fits where the ceiling is low. When the rod is seized in place, the effort and the risk to the tank fittings have to be weighed against the heater's age.

When the answer is a new heater

An anode change makes sense on a tank that is still dry and reasonably young. If the water stays rusty after a new anode, or the tank is weeping, the steel has already been compromised and no part will reverse it. In that case we plan a replacement sized to the household. Alternatives include an electric water heater, which relies on an anode too, and a tankless water heater, which has no storage tank to corrode; see the Georgia water heater overview for the full comparison.

Permits for Hiram homes

The City of Hiram refers building permit questions to Paulding County's Development Division, and the county's Building and Permitting Division issues plumbing permits and inspects the work. If a heater replacement needs a permit, the application goes to the county, and we handle it.

Questions about rusty hot water in Hiram

How often should the anode rod be checked?

Many manufacturers suggest inspecting it every few years, and more often with softened water or water that is hard on metal. The manual for your heater gives a recommended interval. Checking early in the heater's life lets you replace a worn rod while the tank is still fully protected, instead of discovering the problem after rust appears.

Will a new anode rod fix rusty water?

If the rust is coming from a depleted anode and the tank lining is still largely intact, a new rod usually clears up the discoloration once the tank has been flushed. If the tank itself has begun to rust through, a new rod cannot undo that damage. Rust that persists after an anode change is a strong sign that replacement is coming.

Should I flush the tank when the hot water looks rusty?

A flush clears loose rust and sediment that has settled in the bottom, and it is worth doing after a new anode goes in. If the tank itself is producing the rust, though, flushing only removes what has collected and the color comes back. On an older heater, opening a drain valve that has not moved in years can also leave it dripping, so have a replacement valve in mind.

Get the tank checked

Seeing orange in the tub when the hot water runs? Call Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448; in Hiram homes we can check the anode and the tank and tell you which one you are dealing with.