Whether you own a fast-food franchise, a hotel or a skilled nursing facility, an after-hour water heater failure is an emergency that can't simply wait until morning.

At home, you can always heat water for washing dishes or bathing while you wait for a residential water heater repair. However, you can't do this for a restaurant, hospital, or other 24/7 commercial establishment that requires hot water for sanitation.

Experienced commercial water heater repair professionals see the same malfunctions over and over from one water heater to the next. This is great because you can use their knowledge to keep an eye out for the first tell-tale signs your water heater needs repair. And, it's always ideal to spot small problems before you find yourself with only cold water at 2 AM on a Sunday!

To help you out, here are the most common indicators that a commercial water heater soon needs repair:

The Water Heater Makes Bubbling or Rumbling Sounds

Commercial water heaters that don't have mechanical problems should not make any sounds other than water flowing into and out of the tank. So, if you hear bubbling or rumbling sounds, then it is time to call for service.

Rumbling sounds are usually caused by the self-stirring mechanism inside of the tank dragging on a thick layer of sediment. 

Bubbling sounds are created as heated water near the heat exchanger is passing through a layer of hard water scale.

Commercial water heaters that are making noise can be drained, flushed to remove built-up sediment, and refilled. Water heaters with these issues will typically give you many more years of service.

The Water Heater Is Dripping or Leaking

Water heaters are designed to be contained units and should never leak or drip water. If you ever see water on the floor near a water heater, the root cause needs to be identified as soon as possible.

Frequently, water heater leaks are caused by corroded holding tanks, piping failures, and problems with excessive pressure.

Generally, plumbing and pressure problems can be repaired without replacing the water heater, while holding tank corrosion issues are fatal for the appliance.

The Water Heater Isn't Making Enough Hot Water

The inside of your commercial water heater contains multiple heat exchangers. Their job is to heat the water to whatever temperature the thermostat is set at.

When one heat exchanger fails, then the water heater will produce a limited amount of hot water or water that never gets hot enough.

Finally, if your water heater is otherwise in good condition, then the failed heat exchanger can be replaced and the unit put back in service.

Contact a company that offers services like A.O.Smith commercial water heater repair to learn more.