Do You Need a New Water Heater? 7 Signs the Answer Is “Yes”
Do you think it’s time for a new water heater?
Your water heater is vital for ensuring you have access to hot water in your home. And we often take it for granted; we don’t always appreciate it until it breaks. Usually, from something you could avoid. But if you’re not a plumber, you might not know if you need a new water heater (here are the best tankless water heaters if you don’t have time to read the article). You might not know the signs to look out for.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Read on for these seven signs you need to get a new water heater right away.
1. Weird Noises
As debris, dirt, and sediment build in the water tank, this can cause an obstruction. As a result, during the heating process or as water tries to flow, it can cause weird noises. You might hear rumbling, whistling, or banging noises.
You can clean out and remove small amounts of buildup with the help you a professional plumber. But, over time, this sediment will harden.
In large amounts, it will reduce the efficiency of your heater and it will start to fail. So, it’s better to get a new one if this is the case before your heater finally gives up the ghost when you need it most.
2. Worn Out Fittings
The design of water heaters means they’re built to withstand things like:
- high temperature
- constant water flow
- moisture
But over time, components and fittings will continue to wear down. If you start to get leaks near valves or in your pipework, then you’re even more at risk of corrosion.
If you spot fittings that look worn out or rusted, then this could hint at an issue with your heater. Calling in a professional plumber will help you work out what the issue is.
For some minor issues, you can get away with replacing a part. But for more serious issues, you’re looking at a water heater replacement.
3. Water Temperatures That are Inconsistent
You might notice that in the middle of your shower, the water will go stone cold, then boiling hot, then back to normal. This can be a common side effect from someone turning on a tap too much, or flushing the loo.
But, it also can be a common water heater issue as well. It’s more common the older a water heater is, due to natural efficiency degradation. The unit starts to struggle to push through consistent pressure.
You may also find this in heaters that have clogging/sediment in the output line. Either way, these are serious and difficult issues to fix. To get back to the most efficient, consistent temperatures, it’s time for a new water heater.
4. Unexpected Energy Cost Rise
Energy bills are stressful enough, without adding an energy-guzzling old water heater. It’s burning through all this extra energy and you don’t know why.
If you’re seeing your energy bills rising beyond normal for that time of year, it could be your water heater. Old water heaters need to use more energy to heat up your water.
If you have an electric heater that’s heating elements are on the blink, you’ll find it won’t get your water as hot. But it’ll get through a load of energy while it tries to. In some cases, you might be able to get it repaired, but in most cases, it’s better to replace it.
5. Lack of Hot Water Capacity
You might notice that you don’t seem to have as much hot water as normal. It might have lasted before while the whole family took their turn in the shower, but now it only lasts for one.
A reduction in hot water capacity is a sign of massive wear and tear. It’s a strong sign that your heater is on it’s way out and you should get a new one. It’s usually because the heating elements or the thermostat are on their way out (or both).
If your water isn’t hot like it was before, you have to use more to keep the temperature up. It also means you’ll be running out of it quicker too. It’ll seem like your tank has lost the ability to hold as much as it did before.
If you replace your water heater, you can fix this. to start, search water heater installation near me to find a local, reputable plumber.
6. Water Heater is Old
On your water heater, you’ll find technical spec printed on it. Among this information, you will find the manufacturing date for your water heater. If this date is over 8 years old, then it’s likely your water heater is ending the last stage of its life.
It’s true that your heater wasn’t likely installed the day it rolled off the production line. In most cases though, it would likely have been within a few months.
Even if you don’t have issues right now, you should start paying attention. Keep an eye on bills, and how your water heater performs. The time to replace your water heater could soon be upon you and you don’t want to get caught out when you need it.
7. A Dripping, Slow Leak
A leak from your water heaters doesn’t always take the form of a massive, pouring disaster. In fact, for the most part, these leaks start small, even tiny.
You want to check your drain pan, you should see a little water in it. Check to make sure that the water goes away over a period of a few days. If you notice the pool deepening, then you might have an issue on your hands.
Don’t delay in calling someone out. The longer you leave it, the more danger you put your home in. Don’t let a little leak, become that major disaster that ruins your home and gives you a headache.
When to Get a New Water Heater Made Easy
So, there you have it! With these seven signs, you know what to look for if you think you need a new water heater.
Age plays a big part in whether you need to replace it. As your water heater gets older, it deteriorates and loses condition.
It also reduces efficiency and leaves you open to a myriad of problems. Don’t ignore them, if anything doesn’t look right, call in a plumber immediately.
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