Unless you’re a Pioneer, no hot water for your shower first thing in the morning is not a great way to start your day. If the hot water tank is beyond seven years old, then conventional wisdom would dictate you should be installing a new tank. But what if your day starts off with you having an acceptable amount of hot water for your shower? It’s not the ideal volume and temperature, but it’s enough for a quick shower. And a visual inspection indicates the tank is working and it isn’t showing any signs of age. But, as shown in the photo below, the real issue may be a hidden problem inside the tank. A severe buildup of rust caused by a variety of factors but most often a condition of an anode rod exceeding its life expectancy. Without getting overly technical, every conventional hot water tank has either an aluminum or magnesium sacrificial anode rod inside that helps reduce rust and corrosion. By nature, it deteriorates over time (sacrificial) and consequently its effectiveness is diminished. Time for a new hot water tank. Unless you’re in the mood for a Pioneer shower.