We rely on hot water each and every day in our homes for bathing, washing, and cleaning purposes. When the water heater fails, it can create a great deal of disruption, and it’s essential to get the problem fixed quickly. A water heater has a finite lifespan, over time, it will become less effective, and you may notice that it needs more frequent repair. Sometimes it’s an easy decision to replace your water heater and other times, it can be hard to make a judgment call. Let’s take a look at three signs that you need to consider replacing your water heater now.
- A Lack of Hot Water
A water heater has one job; it has to produce hot water. If you turn on your taps and you only get cold water, this is an obvious sign that you have a problem. If your water heater is pretty new, this could be a one time problem such as a circuit breaker that’s tripped that can be easily solved. But, if the problem is a recurring on and the water heater is an older model, then this is a sure sign that it’s reaching the end of its useful lifespan. Many water heaters work harder later in life to compensate for their lack of performance, and this can lead to overheating problems and higher than normal energy bills. A water heater that’s acting in this way may shut down frequently to avoid overheating, and this is why your water is running cold.
- Strange Water Characteristics
During the lifespan of a water heater, a certain quantity of minerals and sediment will form inside the system. This material will gradually eat through the inner lining of the water tank, and then the characteristics of the supplied water may change. If you notice that your water looks rusty, there are strange odors or the water tastes bad, this is a sure warning sign that your water heater is reaching the end. If you schedule some regular annual maintenance for your water heater, the plumber will clean the minerals and sediment deposits and flush the tank clean. This will make a failure less likely, it will improve the water quality, and it could prolong the life of your water heater, saving you money.
- Water Drips and Leaks
If you notice that your water heater has developed a water drip or leak, this is a bad sign. A less obvious leak could be accompanied by rust on the body of the water heater, and you may even notice puddles of standing water in extreme cases. A water leak never gets better on its own and the longer it’s left, the worse it will become. If the water tank cracks, this could even cause flooding in your home and water damage is expensive to repair. If you see any evidence of water drips and leaks in and around your water heater, it’s important to contact your
local certified plumber quickly to fix the problem. If the water heater is pretty new, a repair should be possible, but if it’s an older unit it’s often cheaper to simply replace it with a modern unit.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
