7 Water Heater Mistakes Houston Homeowners Should (And Can) Avoid

Your water heater in Houston, TX works hard. Between Houston’s humidity, large families, and the sheer amount of hot water we use for everything from dishwashing to long showers, it’s no wonder these units take a beating.

But most water heater problems aren’t inevitable, they’re the result of small mistakes that snowball over time.

Here at Luke’s, our Houston, TX plumbers have seen it all: units that failed years too early, surprise cold showers on a Tuesday morning, and water damage that could’ve been prevented with one simple habit.

Here are seven mistakes Houston homeowners make with their water heaters, and what to do instead.

1. Ignoring Sediment Buildup

Houston’s hard water is loaded with minerals like calcium and magnesium. Over time, these settle at the bottom of your tank as sediment. That layer acts like an insulating blanket between the burner and the water, forcing your heater to work harder and longer to do its job.

The result? Higher energy bills, strange popping or rumbling noises, and a unit that wears out faster than it should.

What to do: Flush your tank once a year. It’s a straightforward process—drain a few gallons from the valve at the bottom until the water runs clear. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, water heater maintenance includes flushing and a full inspection to catch other issues early.

We worked with a homeowner last year whose 8-year-old tank was making sounds like a coffee percolator. A flush cleared out nearly a bucket’s worth of sediment, and the unit ran quietly again. She’s now on an annual maintenance schedule and expects to get another 4-5 years out of it.

2. Setting the Thermostat Too High

The default setting on most water heaters is 140°F, but the Department of Energy recommends 120°F for households. That 20-degree difference might not sound like much, but it adds up—higher temps mean higher energy costs, faster tank corrosion, and a genuine scalding risk, especially if you have kids or elderly family members.

What to do: Check your thermostat setting. If it’s above 120°F, turn it down. You’ll save around 3-5% on water heating costs for every 10 degrees you lower it, and your tank’s anode rod (the part that prevents rust) will last longer too.

3. Skipping Annual Inspections

Most people don’t think about their water heater until it stops working. But an annual inspection catches small problems—a failing anode rod, a slow leak, a pilot light that’s burning the wrong color—before they become expensive emergencies.

What to do: Schedule a professional inspection once a year. It’s typically quick, affordable, and can extend your unit’s lifespan by years.

4. Installing the Wrong Size Unit

When it’s time to replace your water heater, going too small or too large causes problems. Too small, and you’ll run out of hot water constantly. Too large, and you’re heating water you don’t need, wasting energy every single day.

A family of four typically needs a 50-gallon tank, but that depends on your usage patterns. Do you run the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time someone’s showering? Do you have teenagers who take 20-minute showers? These details matter.

What to do: When you’re looking at water heater installation, talk to a pro who’ll calculate your household’s actual hot water demand. For some Houston homes, a tankless water heater makes more sense—endless hot water and lower energy costs, especially if you’re in a smaller home or want to free up space.

5. DIY Repairs Without the Right Knowledge

YouTube makes everything look easy. And yes, some water heater tasks are doable for a confident DIYer. But we’ve seen too many situations where a homeowner tried to replace a pressure relief valve, didn’t test it properly, and ended up with a flooded utility room—or worse, a safety hazard.

Water heaters involve gas lines or high-voltage electricity, pressurized tanks, and scalding water. One mistake can mean a dangerous situation or damage that far exceeds what a service call would’ve cost.

What to do: If you’re dealing with anything beyond basic maintenance like flushing the tank, call for water heater repair. It’s not worth the risk, and most repairs are faster and more affordable than people expect.

6. Ignoring Warning Signs

Water heaters usually give you clues before they fail completely. Rusty water from the hot tap, inconsistent temperatures, moisture around the base of the tank, or that popping sound we mentioned earlier—all of these mean something’s wrong.

Ignoring them doesn’t make the problem go away. It just gives it time to get worse and more expensive.

What to do: Pay attention. If something seems off, get it checked. Even if it turns out to be minor, you’ll have peace of mind. And if it’s not minor, you’ll avoid an emergency replacement on a weekend when you have a house full of guests.

One client called us after noticing rust-colored water but waited another month to schedule service because “it still worked fine.” By the time we got there, the tank had a pinhole leak. If she’d called when she first noticed the rusty water, we could’ve replaced the anode rod and bought her a few more years. Instead, she needed a full replacement.

7. Neglecting the Anode Rod

Most people have no idea what an anode rod is, but it’s the unsung hero inside your tank. This metal rod attracts corrosive elements in the water, sacrificing itself so your tank doesn’t rust through. But once the rod is completely corroded—usually after 3-5 years in Houston’s hard water—the tank itself starts rusting.

Replacing an anode rod costs a fraction of what a new water heater costs, but hardly anyone does it because they don’t know it exists.

What to do: Have the anode rod inspected during your annual maintenance appointment. If it’s more than halfway depleted, replace it. This one part can add years to your water heater’s life.

Don’t Wait for a Cold Shower

Most water heater problems don’t announce themselves with flashing lights. They creep up slowly until you’re dealing with an emergency on a Sunday morning when you need hot water for a house full of weekend guests.

The good news? Nearly all of these mistakes are easy to avoid. A little routine maintenance, paying attention to warning signs, and knowing when to call a professional can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of frustration.

If it’s been more than a year since your last inspection—or if you’re noticing any of the warning signs we mentioned—get in touch! We’ll take a look, let you know what’s going on, and help you avoid becoming another cautionary tale.

Call (713) 686-7000