When Do You Know It Is Time for A New Water Heater?

When Do You Know It Is Time for A New Water Heater?

plumbing Denver contractors

The water heater is usually among the most important appliances in any building – without a heater, you will not have hot water running from your faucets and you will have to wash your dishes and shower in cold water. Water heaters are sturdy, reliable appliances, but they work hard all the time, so the time when you will need to replace yours will inevitably come. Here are some signs to indicate that you will soon need to invest into a new heater.

The Age of Your System

Most water heaters designed for use in standard homes last for 15-20 years. Once your heater reaches that age, you should start preparing for getting a new one, even if your current unit still shows no sign of damage or fault – an old system can break down any minute and the break-down will surely happen when you are the least prepared for it.

A Decreased Volume of Hot Water

A tired water heater cannot heat water as efficiently as you need it to, therefore your water will not be sufficiently hot. The decreased volume of heated water is another sign that your water heater has reached the end of its lifespan and needs to retire.

Increasing Heating Bills

If you have not changed anything in your plumbing and heating system and your energy bills keep rising for no obvious reason, the culprit might be an improperly functioning water heater. There are many faults that can make your water heater struggle to deliver the expected performance and that increase the amount of energy it uses. In many cases, the problems that lead to such high energy needs can be remedied only by replacing unit components that are very expensive. As a general rule, per plumbing Denver contractors, if the price of the repair exceeds 30% of the price of a new heater, you should skip the repair and get a new unit right away.

Signs of Corrosion on the Unit and Rust in the Water

The appearance of rust and corrosion also indicates that your water heating is approaching the end of its life. Whether you see the signs on the exterior surfaces of the heater or on your water, you should start preparing for replacing your heater.

Strange Noises

As water heaters age, sediments form inside the water tank and on the interior surfaces of other components as well. The signs of the problem include loud banging and rattling noises coming from the heater – if the noise is also associated with longer times needed by the unit to turn on, you should start browsing new heaters.

Frequent Repairs

Another general rule is that waters heaters that need to be repaired more than twice a year, you should start saving money for a new heater. There are many components in a heater that can break down – if you get one repaired and the next one breaks down in a couple of weeks, investing into a new heater is a actually a great way to save money and to improve the comfort and the functionality of your home.

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