5 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Water Heater

Is it Time to Replace Your Water Heater?

How much do you think about your water heater? If you are like most of us, it’s not very much. Typically, people don’t really give much thought to the water heater as it faithfully goes along, providing hot water at the twist of a faucet. It’s only when there is a problem or the water heater begins to fail that we think about it, and that makes sense, because water heaters are pretty sturdy, typically meant to last 10 to 15 years. That’s a long time, but it’s not forever. How do you know when it’s time to replace the water heater?

Signs it’s Time for a New Water Heater

• Sometimes, knowing when to replace the water heater is as simple as knowing its age. If you weren’t the one who purchased the water heater, this can be a little bit tricky. Fortunately, there is a simple way to determine your water heater’s age. Look at the serial number, and you will see something like this: D081193740. The letter represents the month, with A meaning January, B meaning February, and so on. The two numbers after the letter represent the year. So, in this example, you can determine that your water heater was manufactured in April of 2008. (This is generally the case, but some manufacturers use different serial numbers, so it is wise to check with the manufacturer.) While water heaters have been known to last 15 or even 20 years, most do not. The average lifespan is eight to 12 years, and for gas water heaters it is even shorter than that, so if your water heater is over eight years old, even if you are not noticing any major issues, it’s time to think about replacing it.
• One of the most obvious signs a water heater is failing is that it stops heating your water. Hot water is necessary to our household tasks, yet we often take it for granted. It is not until we run out of hot water during a shower or find that the water isn’t warming up when we are washing our hands or washing dishes that we notice that something is wrong. When a water heater stops sufficiently heating your water, the problem is typically one of three reasons. In some cases, the thermostat is misadjusted, and this is a problem that can be fixed without water heater replacement. The problem could also be a broken heating element, which can sometimes be repaired. However, insufficient hot water is often a sign that the water heater tank is too small for your household. Especially if you have added more family members to your household, your water heater may not be able to handle its workload, and in this case, it will need to be replaced.
• Listen to your water heater: it may be telling you it’s time to replace it. Do you regularly have your water heater flushed? If you don’t, sediment can build up in the tank. When this happens, this sediment can harden and grow thick on the bottom of the tank, and the tank will make noise every time it heats water. Sediment in the tank can also waste energy because it makes it more difficult for the water heater to function, and it can shorten the lifespan of the water heater. The first step, if your water heater is becoming noisy, is to call a plumber out to flush it. If that doesn’t stop the noise, though, it’s time to replace the water heater.
• Rust is always a bad sign for a water heater. Take a peek at your water heater tank from time to time, just to make sure everything looks right. If you notice any signs of rust or corrosion, have these checked out by a plumber. Rust is particularly concerning around the temperature and pressure relief valves, or the inlet and outlet connections. If you notice rusty water on the floor near the water heater or you notice that your hot water comes out of the tap looking discolored, this probably means you have rust in your water heater tank. This is a serious problem, because it can degrade the metal and cause a leak.
• A leaky water heater needs to be replaced. If you notice a little bit of water pooling around the water heater, call a plumber immediately. The plumber can tell you whether it is simply a problem with a connection or your pressure overflow pipe, but if you are told to replace the water heater, it is important to do it as quickly as possible. You might be concerned about water heater replacement cost, but it will be far more costly if a leak turns into a flood and damages your home.

Eagerton Plumbing Can Help

For over half a century, Eagerton Plumbing has been a leading provider of residential and commercial plumbing services in Jacksonville, Florida and the surrounding areas. Customers in Duval, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties know they can rely on us not only for comprehensive plumbing services, but also for slab leak detection and repair, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and more. No job is too big or too small, and we are here for our customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering exceptional customer service and reliable repair services, backed by service guarantees. All of our experienced plumbers are licensed, insured, and background checked, and we are committed to getting the job done right the first time, customizing an affordable solution to meet your needs and solve your plumbing problems. When you need a reliable plumber, any time of day or night, call 904.638.7979 or contact us through our website.