• Domestic hot water is a convenient amenity for washing and other home uses. Most households receive hot water from a heater powered by electricity or gas. This heater stores the heated water in an insulated tank until you need it. These tanks function well if you've installed and maintained them properly, but they can present some problems.
  
  

Leakage

• The most basic problem you can have with a hot water tank is that it doesn't hold the water in. If you see a large puddle on the floor around your hot water tank, it has probably sprung a leak. If you determine that the leak is around one of the pipes where the water goes in and out of the tank, it's possible to fix the leak. If the water is coming out of the tank itself through a rust hole or a rupture, it's easier to replace the tank.
  
  

Malfunctioning Anode Rod

• Hot water tanks are equipped with an anode rod inside of them. An anode rod is made of magnesium, and its purpose is to draw water impurities to itself that would otherwise attach to the metal sides of the tank. If you take a water tank apart, you will find this anode rod looking like a stalactite because it's covered in congealed water impurities. If the anode rod in a water tank doesn't function correctly, impurities in the water will begin congealing to the tank and may eventually damage it, leading to leakage.
  
  

Calcification

• If you live in an area with hard water, you have many suspended minerals in your water. Over the years, these minerals can begin to clog up your water tank as many gallons of water pass through it. At best, this will reduce the capacity of the tank, and at worst, the minerals will clog the tank and make it unusable. A solution to this problem is to install a water softener in the line between the water source and the hot water tank. A water softener removes minerals from the water before the water reaches your household plumbing.