From showers, baths, hand-washing, cooking, laundry, and cleaning dishes, the accessibility of warm water is crucial to everyday living. Especially when you multiply that usage by multiple household members, you get to see the huge demands that are placed on a water heater.
When your water heater is not running at its peak, you may find that normal tasks become harder and less convenient. However, the average homeowner doesn’t know when it’s truly time to replace their water heater. So we have compiled a list of signs that will tell you when it may be time to replace your water heater.
Old Water Heater
Most water heaters last between eight to ten years. While we recommend to automatically assume you need to replace your water heater if it’s ten years old, problems could still arise beforehand and you may need to replace it sooner than expected. Even though your water heater may still appear to be in good condition, you should still replace it if it has been over a decade since its manufacture date.
Rusty Water
Even though steel is one of the strongest materials on earth, it still is vulnerable to corrosion, or rust. The problem is, it’s hard to tell whether the rust in your water is coming from the water heater itself or the pipes in your plumbing system. In any case, it is vital to your household’s cleanliness for you to attend to this problem.
Noise
If your water heater is making any rumbling noises, you should inspect it closely. There may be sediment built up in the tank that could cause it to experience accelerated damage. Flush the water tank and if the noise remains after the sediment has been removed, it may be a good time to replace the water heater.
Leaking
Toward the end of your water heater’s life expectancy, there’s an increased chance it will leak. A sure way to know your water heater is experiencing some leaks is water on the floor around the tank. If your water heater tank is located inside your home, it may end up damaging surrounding properties and potential foundation erosion.
Not Heating
As stated from the beginning, hot water is extremely vital in everyday household necessities. Without hot water, you can’t take showers, run your washing machine, or clean dishes. If your water heater fails to provide warm water, it may be time to have your system inspected and potentially replaced.
If you end up needing to replace your water heater, please do not treat it as the normal DIY home project. Have an experienced Utah plumbing expert install your new system to make sure all electrical and water heater equipment runs at its best for the decade to come. Call Plumbing Utah, your local plumbing experts to come to inspect and replace your water heater tank. We offer some of the best prices in the valley, we operate on a 24/7 schedule, and we give same-day services.