Early Fall Is a Good Time to Give Your Water Heater Some Attention

We tend to think about our heating systems as soon as the temperatures start to drop, but there’s another hardworking appliance in the house that deserves a little attention this time of year: your water heater.

Early fall is a great time to give it a once-over. As the weather cools, the water entering your home gets colder, which means your water heater has to work harder to bring it up to temperature. Add in more hot showers, baths and general indoor time, and a small problem now can become a much bigger inconvenience in the middle of winter.

A little preventative maintenance can help keep your water heater running efficiently and, hopefully, help you catch trouble before you're standing in a cold shower in January.

1. Clear the Area Around It

Start with an easy one. Head down to the basement or utility room and take a look at what has accumulated around your water heater.

Boxes, paint cans, cleaning supplies and miscellaneous household storage have a way of migrating toward mechanical equipment. Keep the area around the unit clear so you can easily inspect it and so there's adequate airflow around equipment that requires ventilation.

While you're there, take a good look at the floor around the tank. Any unexplained moisture, rust or staining is worth investigating.

2. Check the Temperature

For many households, 120°F is a good water-heater setting. It provides plenty of hot water while reducing the risk of scalding and avoiding the energy waste that comes with keeping water unnecessarily hot.

If your water suddenly seems much hotter or cooler than usual, however, don't just adjust the thermostat and forget about it. A noticeable change can sometimes point to a thermostat, heating element or other issue that needs attention.

3. Consider Flushing the Tank

Over time, minerals and sediment can collect at the bottom of a traditional tank-style water heater. That buildup can reduce efficiency and is sometimes responsible for the popping or rumbling noises you hear coming from an older tank.

Periodically flushing the tank can help remove that sediment. If you routinely maintain your water heater and are comfortable doing it, follow the manufacturer's instructions for your particular model.

If the tank hasn't been flushed in years, is quite old, or you're not sure what you're doing, this may be a good job to leave to a plumber. Older drain valves don't always appreciate being opened after sitting untouched for a decade.

4. Look at the Pipes and Insulation

If your water heater is located in an unfinished or chilly basement, insulating accessible hot-water pipes can reduce heat loss as water travels through the house. Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and relatively easy to install.

Some older tank-style water heaters may also benefit from an insulating blanket, but don't automatically wrap every tank you see. Many newer models are already well insulated, and additional insulation may not be recommended. Check the manufacturer's instructions first, particularly with gas-fired units where vents, controls and air intakes must remain unobstructed.

5. Don't Forget the Safety Components

Tank-style water heaters have a temperature and pressure relief valve designed to release water if pressure or temperature inside the tank becomes unsafe.

This is an important safety device, but it's also one I don't recommend experimenting with if you're unsure of its condition, especially on an older water heater. If you notice leaking or corrosion around the valve or discharge pipe, have it inspected by a professional. A plumber can also check the valve as part of routine water-heater maintenance.

6. Ask About the Anode Rod

Inside most traditional tank water heaters is an anode rod designed to corrode before the steel tank does. It's a relatively small component that can have a big impact on the life of the water heater.

Anode rods don't last forever. If your tank is several years old and you've never had the rod inspected, ask about it the next time you have the system serviced. Replacing a depleted rod can help protect a tank that's otherwise in good condition.

7. Pay Attention to What Your Water Heater Is Telling You

Water heaters usually give you some warning when things aren't quite right. Keep an eye — and an ear — out for:

• Rust or corrosion around fittings

• Water collecting around the bottom of the tank

• Rumbling, popping or other new noises

• Rust-colored or cloudy hot water

• Hot water that runs out faster than it used to

• Water that takes noticeably longer to heat

• Unexplained changes in water temperature

None of these automatically means you need a new water heater, but they're good reasons to have it checked before the problem gets worse.

8. Know the Age of Your Water Heater

If you have no idea how old your water heater is, fall is a good time to find out. Check the manufacturer's label for the model and serial number; the manufacturer can usually help you determine the date it was made.

Traditional tank water heaters don't last forever, and once yours gets into the 10-year-plus range, it's smart to pay closer attention to its condition and start thinking ahead. That doesn't mean replacing a perfectly good water heater simply because it had a birthday. It means avoiding the unpleasant surprise of having an aging tank fail without a plan.

If replacement is on the horizon, you'll also have more choices when you're planning ahead than you will during an emergency. Today's options include high-efficiency tank models, heat-pump water heaters and tankless systems, depending on your home and your family's needs.

A Little Fall Maintenance Goes a Long Way

We spend plenty of time getting our homes ready for colder weather — cleaning gutters, servicing furnaces, sealing drafts and putting away the patio furniture. Your water heater deserves a spot on that fall checklist too.

Take ten minutes to look it over now. Check for leaks and corrosion, clear the surrounding area and think about when it was last serviced. A little attention in September or October can help keep the hot water flowing when you really don't want to be thinking about it in January.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

The 2027 Interior Colors of the Year

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to bring more color into your home, 2027 might be your year. Interior paint companies have been announcing their “Colors of the Year” over the past several weeks, and the choices feel fresh, warm, and remarkably easy to live with, offering plenty of inspiration whether you’re planning a full renovation or just looking to refresh a room.

After years of white, gray and greige dominating interiors, color continues to make its way back into our homes. But this isn’t a return to anything overly bright or bold. The 2027 palette is earthy, muted, and inviting with greens, blues and warm natural shades that add personality while still feeling timeless. Here’s a look at some of my favorites: 

Behr: Grounded

Behr's Grounded is an earthy olive green with mossy tones and subtle brown undertones. It's rich without being overly dark and feels more like a neutral than a traditional green.

This is one I could see working particularly well on kitchen cabinets, built-ins, an office or even throughout a smaller room. Pair it with natural wood and warm whites and it feels current without screaming "2027."

Glidden: Artifact

Glidden went in a cooler direction with Artifact, a soft, muted aqua that falls somewhere between blue and gray.

Don't picture tropical turquoise. Artifact is much quieter and more sophisticated. It could work nicely in a bathroom, bedroom or living space, especially alongside warm wood, cream and other earthy colors.

Valspar: Cottage Door

Valspar's Cottage Door is another blue, but this one has enough gray in it to keep it from feeling overly sweet or coastal.

It's an easy color to imagine living with for a long time. It could work across an entire room, but it's also a good candidate for cabinetry, a bathroom vanity or built-ins if you aren't ready to commit four walls to blue.

Dutch Boy: Deep Rooted

Here's where things get a little more interesting. Dutch Boy chose Deep Rooted, an earthy orange that brings some real warmth into the mix.

This isn't bright pumpkin orange. Think clay, terracotta and the warm tones you find in natural materials. It would make a great accent in a dining room, mudroom or on a piece of furniture, and for the brave among us, it could make a pretty memorable room.

Sherwin-Williams: Celery

Sherwin-Williams chose Celery, a light herbal green that feels fresh without venturing into mint territory. Of all this year's picks, this might be one of the easiest to use throughout a home. It's light enough for larger spaces but still gives you noticeably more color than another coat of off-white.

What the 2027 Picks Tell Us

If there's one clear takeaway this year, it's that color is back, but we're using it thoughtfully. The cool gray interiors that dominated for years continue to give way to warmer, more natural colors. Greens are still everywhere, but blues, clay tones and other muted colors are joining them. Instead of choosing between "neutral" and "color," homeowners are increasingly using colors that can behave like neutrals.

What I like most is that these shades don't require a complete redesign of your house. Most work well with the things many of us already have: hardwood floors, stone, warm wood cabinetry, cream upholstery and natural materials.

How to Bring Color Home

Remember, you don't need to paint an entire room olive green just because trends say so. If you're curious about these colors, start with a smaller project. Built-ins, a bathroom vanity, kitchen island, interior door or even the back of a bookcase can completely change a room.

And always test before you commit. Greens and blues in particular can look dramatically different depending on natural light, flooring, and the other finishes in your house. A color you love on your phone may be a very different beast once it's covering 400 square feet of wall. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

A Crack in the Ceiling? Here’s When to Worry

You’re sitting in the living room, you happen to look up, and there it is… a crack in the ceiling. Maybe it’s brand-new, or maybe you’re just noticing it for the first time. Either way, it’s natural to wonder whether your ceiling needs a little patching or your house is trying to tell you something.

The good news is that most ceiling cracks aren’t a reason to panic. Houses move a little over time. Wood expands and contracts, drywall settles, and changes in temperature and humidity can cause small cracks to appear.

Still, some cracks deserve a closer look. The trick is to pay attention not only to the crack itself, but also to what’s happening around it.

First, Look at the Pattern

A thin, fairly straight crack often follows the seam between two sheets of drywall. The tape or joint compound covering that seam may have loosened as the house moved. If the ceiling is otherwise flat, dry and solid, this is usually a cosmetic repair.

Cracks also show up where the ceiling meets an interior wall. Sometimes this is caused by seasonal movement in the roof trusses. You may notice the gap more during the winter and less during warmer months. It can look alarming, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the roof is failing.

Older plaster ceilings tend to develop their own collection of fine cracks. A few small, stable cracks may simply be part of the home’s age and character. Loose, sagging or bulging plaster is a different story and should be checked.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: a small crack that hasn’t changed in years is usually less concerning than one that appeared overnight or keeps getting longer.

Take a Look Around

Before grabbing the spackle, give the whole area a quick inspection. Is the ceiling flat and firm? Do you see a stain, bubbling paint or peeling? Does anything feel damp or soft? Has the crack grown? Are doors suddenly sticking, or are new cracks showing up on nearby walls?

One little crack may not tell you much. Several changes happening together can.

For example, if you have ceiling cracks along with sloping floors, sticking doors or cracks around windows, there may be movement elsewhere in the house. That doesn’t automatically mean you have a major structural problem, so don’t assume the worst. It does mean you should have someone take a look before simply covering everything with paint.

Don’t Ignore Water Stains

If there’s discoloration around the crack, water moves to the top of the suspect list. The source could be a roof leak, damaged flashing, an upstairs bathroom, a plumbing line or even condensation around ductwork.

Remember, the stain isn’t always directly below the leak. Water can travel along a pipe or ceiling joist before it finally finds a place to show itself. A brown ring, musty smell or bubbling paint should be investigated even if it feels dry today. Some leaks only appear during a hard rain, when snow melts or when someone uses a particular sink, shower or bathtub.

If the ceiling is sagging, bulging or holding water, keep everyone, including your pets, out of the room. Don’t stand underneath it, and don’t poke the bulge with a broomstick. Wet drywall can be surprisingly heavy and may come down without much warning. Water near a light fixture can also create an electrical hazard.

When Should You Call Someone?

It’s time to bring in a qualified contractor, home inspector or structural engineer if:

• The ceiling is sagging, bowing or pulling away

• A crack appeared suddenly or is growing quickly

• The crack runs across the ceiling and continues down a wall

• Several new cracks appear around the same time

• The drywall feels soft or the plaster is coming loose

• You see water stains, dampness or active dripping

• The damage appeared after a storm, roof impact or heavy snow

• Cracks are accompanied by uneven floors or sticking doors

If you’re not sure whether a crack is changing, take a picture with a ruler next to it and write down the date. Check it again in a few weeks. A couple of small pencil marks at the ends can also help you tell whether it’s getting longer. Of course, monitoring is only appropriate when the ceiling is dry and solid. If it’s wet, sagging or dropping material, don’t wait.

Most ceiling cracks turn out to be ordinary wear and tear. The important thing is to slow down, look at the whole picture and use a little common sense. A coat of paint can hide a crack, but it can’t stop a leak or correct movement behind the ceiling.

And if your gut tells you something doesn’t look right, make the call. It’s usually easier, and less expensive, to check a small problem today than repair a much bigger one tomorrow.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Have a question? Email info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” For your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for general guidance only.