You turn on the tap expecting a steady stream of hot water only to be met with lukewarm drizzle, strange noises or rusty-coloured water. A failing hot water system rarely stops working without sending out distress signals first. Understanding those signs can save you from cold showers, water damage and…

Opening your tap to find murky, tea-coloured water is never a pleasant surprise. Besides the obvious concern about drinking or bathing in discoloured water, brown hot water can hint at deeper issues inside the pipes or the storage tank. Some of those issues are minor and disappear within minutes, others…

A sudden burst hot-water tank can release hundreds of litres in minutes—ruining flooring, gyprock and furniture long before you can reach the isolation valve. The good news? Water heaters rarely give way without dropping hints first. From strange rumbling sounds to subtle changes in water colour, these clues tell you…