Having a water heater is practically essential for any home. This particular appliance will heat up your water so that you can take hot and comfortable showers, baths, and have hot water to wash your dishes and clothing with. Unfortunately, as with many appliances, hot water heaters can break down from time to time. The reason for this depends on how often the heater is running and how old it happens to be. Fortunately, there are several things to look for that lets you know that the appliance needs servicing before it actually breaks down and leaves you with no hot water at all. By keeping an eye on these tell-tale signs, you will be able to service the heater before it begins giving you a lot of trouble. The first sign to look for if you feel that your hot water heater is beginning to break down is how hot the water really is. If your water used to come out of the tap extremely hot and it is now only lukewarm, there is a good chance that there is something wrong with the appliance. Likewise, if your water is not staying hot for a very long time, there may be something wrong with the appliance itself. These signs completely depend on your past experiences with the hot water heater. For instance, if you are noticing that your water is not as hot as you want it to be but that it has always come out of the tap at that temperature, it could simply mean that the appliance is not big enough for your home's needs. Your hot water heater should have a warranty on it, which means you may not have to pay for servicing if your warranty is good. In general, water heaters have about a ten year warranty, which ensures that if the appliance breaks down within that time, you will be able to replace it for free or have it serviced for free. Before hiring a servicing company, it is imperative that you understand what to look for in a failing appliance and if you even need to pay for repairs if you are still covered under a warranty.