When your home’s water heater breaks down, it can be inconvenient and costly. After all, there are few things that are as essential to daily life as hot water. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t break down at some point. In fact, it’s estimated that over a million water heaters break down every year. That’s why it’s such an important part of owning or renting a home to have it regularly inspected by a professional. When you do have it inspected, it’s important to know what things you should look for so that you don’t have to deal with a broken water heater again anytime soon.

Check the Temperature Indicator

This is a visual representation of the water inside the tank. When the water is at the correct temperature, the indicator will be green. If the water inside the tank is cool, the indicator will be red. If the water inside the tank has dropped below the recommended temperature, the indicator will be yellow. If the water inside the tank is extremely hot and the indicator is red, that means the water has reached an unsafe or “superheated” temperature.

Check the Temperature Gauge

This is a dial that tells you what the temperature of the water inside the tank is. When the temperature is at the recommended level, the dial will be green. If the temperature of the water inside the tank is too hot, the dial will be red. If the temperature of the water inside the tank is below the recommended level, the dial will be yellow. If the temperature of the water inside the tank is extremely hot and the dial is red, that means the water has reached an unsafe or “superheated” temperature.

Check the Air Leaking Out of the Valve

When the temperature of the water inside the tank is too high, the air inside the tank may be leaking out through the expansion valve. This is an indication that the tank needs to be drained and the expansion valve needs to be replaced. If the water inside the tank is too hot and there’s a whistling noise coming from the expansion valve, the tank needs to be drained and the expansion valve needs to be replaced.

Check the Efficiency Indicator

This is a visual representation of how much energy you’re using each month. The efficiency of the water heater is calculated by taking the amount of hot water used in a month and dividing it by the amount of energy used to produce that water. If the efficiency of the water heater is low, it’s likely that the tank is leaking. If the efficiency of the water heater is high, it’s likely that the tank isn’t leaking and the water inside the tank is at the recommended temperature.

Check for Leaks

If there is a leak, it will need to be fixed before the water heater can be safely used again. There are several ways to check for leaks. If there is a whistling noise coming from the water heater, that’s a sign that there’s a leak. If water is coming out of the faucets or the air conditioning unit, it’s probably coming from the water heater. If you see a puddle of water underneath the water heater, that’s another sign of a leak.

Check for Burn Marks

If the water inside the tank is extremely hot, the inside of the tank may be burning. This means that you need to shut off the water heater immediately and call a professional for help. Burn marks can appear on the tank, the pipes connected to the tank, and the insulation surrounding the tank. Burn marks can also appear on the surrounding walls and floors.