The end of a water heaters service life usually ends with a trickle, not with a bang. Either the tank just quietly stops heating the water, or the heat and holding capacity gradually reduces over time.

Tank-style water heaters have an average service life of 8-12 years, while tankless heaters can function for as much as 20 years. If your tank is older than these guidelines, then the issues may be age related.

It doesn't usually make financial sense to try to repair a water heater that has passed its average lifespan. Replacement with a newer tank can help prevent the need for constant repairs. Also, thanks to ever evolving improvements, newer tanks are typically more energy efficient -- which can also save you money in the long run.

Don't live with a hot water tank that doesn't provide sufficient hot water. Instead, get to the bottom of the problem and fix it.

Insufficient heating typically indicates a problem with the heating elements or with the thermostat. A malfunctioning element won't heat the tank well, where as a broken thermostat will lead to inaccurate temperature readings.

Fortunately, both heating elements and thermostats can be replaced, so you have no need to replace the tank prematurely. In some cases, a thermostat doesn't even require replacement, it only needs to be recalibrated so that the readings are accurate.

Does it seem like your hot showers are getting shorter and shorter? Reduced tank capacity could be the reason.

Mineral buildup reduces the capacity of the tank over time. Areas with hard water are prone to heavier buildup, but soft water regions aren't completely immune. You may also hear increased banging and pops from the tank if it has mineral buildup. These noises come from the mineral deposits hardening and falling from the tank sides.

Annual tank flushing can solve your mineral buildup and tank capacity loss issues. Your plumber will shut off the hot water and then drain the tank. Then, the plumber flushes out any sediment with clear water before closing the drain valves and turning the heater back on.

Cloudy water or hot water that develops a metallic taste can be an alarming issue, but generally the water is still safe even if it is unpleasant.

Cloudy water or discolored water is typically caused by mineral buildup. If it has a red or orange tint, there may be rust or iron in the water. A metallic flavor can also be caused by mineral buildup, although a failing heating element is also sometimes the problem.

If the issue is mineral buildup, then flushing the tank will solve the issue. In some cases, you may also need to replace rusty components. For metallic flavors, the heating element may also require replacement.

Bangs, rumbling, and hisses usually happen when the tank is filling, not necessarily when it is in use. 

Bangs and hisses are usually caused by mineral deposits forming and falling from the tank walls, where as rumbling can indicate a temperature setting issue that is causing the water to boil.

Bangs and knocks usually require nothing more than a tank flushing. Hisses may indicate a valve leak as well, which can be dangerous if not addressed promptly. Rumbles may require little more than a lower thermostat setting, or the thermostat or heating element may need serviced.

Contact Roto-Rooter for more help with your water heater and plumbing system.