Does your home need a new water heater?
Because they are constantly exposed to the harmful effects of moisture and high temperatures, water heaters tend to have a limited lifespan. That is why the water heater will not last forever; it will eventually end its useful life.
It will happen whether you care for the unit or not. The only difference is a water heater that is cared for will last longer than one that is improperly maintained. A badly maintained water heater can fail before it is halfway through the manufacturer’s projected lifespan.
On the other hand, a well-maintained water heater will experience fewer problems, most of which are fairly easy to fix advises Real Property Management Services experts. But even with your best efforts, the time eventually comes when the issues with the water heater will become more frequent and harder to solve.
It makes no sense to continue to repair a water heater after it has reached this stage. That is because as the unit’s cost of maintenance increases, the water heater also becomes progressively inefficient. In other words, you will spend more money for ever-decreasing output.
If your water heater is at this stage, it is time to replace it. What signs should you look for to know when to get a new water heater? If you see some of the following problems in your home, it is a sign that your water heater is due for replacement.
Extensive Leaks
A water heater is designed to contain the water that flows through it. It is a bad sign when you see water outside the water heater. A leaking water heat is not only going to be less efficient, it poses other dangers. If the leaks are from the unit’s connecting pipes, this problem is easy to fix, and you do not need a new water heater. However, if water is seeping down the sides of the water heater and that is not due to a loose pipe connection, your water heater tank may be fractured. Sometimes, you will not see any signs of leaks in the water heater tank. You may find that water constantly pools under the water heater tank. If this is happening to your water heater, it is time to replace the unit.
Inadequate hot water
A tired water heater due for retirement will use up more energy while giving you less hot water. If your household is experiencing an inexplicable and sudden decrease in hot water volume, it may be that the water heater is starting to fail. If you can only get lukewarm water out of the water heater instead of hot water, you may need to buy a new water heater ASAP. A failing water heater will use up more energy. You will be paying higher energy bills without getting enough hot water.
Corroded tank and fittings
Although water heaters should be able to withstand the effects of moisture and high temperatures, they are not entirely immune to them. Over time, the components of a water heater can start to corrode, giving rise to leaks. However, leaks are not the only sign of extensive corrosion inside a water heater. One way to know if your water heater is suffering from excessive corrosion is when you start to see rust in your sinks. Another sign is when the water in your home acquires a metallic taste or shows a muddy color. These problems happen because the rust inside the water heater is transferred to the water flowing through it.
The water heater is older than 15 years
The average water heater has a lifespan of 15 years. If you are super careful about how you maintain the water heater, you may be able to extend this by a few years. But even if an old water heater is still functioning, you can achieve significant energy savings by installing a new unit. The energy savings of the new unit may even be enough to let you recoup the cost of the water heater in one year. Moreover, an aged water heater is a potential hazard. Due to its fragile nature, problems with the water heater can be extreme and costly to fix.
Frequent repairs
Homeowners don’t always realize when it is time to replace an old water heater because they don’t take the time to calculate the monetary and temporal cost of retaining an old water heater. That is because they don’t sum up the small amounts of money regularly spent to fix the water heater. If you sum up the total cost of repairing your water heater in the past months, you may find that it comes close to buying and installing a new system. If you are spending a lot of money to fix your current water heater, it is time to get a new one.
Lastly, before buying a new water heater, you should talk to a professional plumber who can assess your needs and help you choose the right one for your home.