When to Replace Your Water Heater: Call a Plumber When Seeing These Issues
“Oops, the hot water ran out (while you were showering).” Don’t let that ever happen to you. Since we know how vital hot water is to any home in the San Francisco CA area, we’ll talk about the top signs when to replace your water heater.
You probably can’t start your workday without taking a hot and relaxing shower to release stress from your body. Or you just enjoy the warm feel of a hot shower all mornings.
We decided to talk about this topic because we know how important water heaters are to the everyday life of our customers. Thus, we want to teach you how to identify when to change yours.
Top Signs When to Replace Your Water Heater
- My Water Heater Is Too Old
- It Makes Knocking Noises
- My Water Heater Is Leaking
- The Water Is Coming Out Rusty
- My Unit Is Not Heating Enough
Water heating is a necessity. And some statistics show that an average person can use hot water up to 20 times a day. The most common domestic uses of hot water include cooking, cleaning, bathing, and space heating.
We imagine you’re here because you need an answer; thus, we invite you to read this blog article until the end. We’ve put all our experience in this article because we want to help you.
5 Red Flags of When to Replace Your Water Heater!
Your water heater is one of the essential aspects of your home. We are a professional plumber; so, we have the experience to advise you.
Our team understands how important your water heater is; that’s why we created this blog post to tell you the top signs of when to replace your water heater.
Your home heating system won’t last forever, and it can fail at any moment. Your job is to be aware and identify when it’s the right time to change it. Keep on reading here and let professionals, like us, guide you.
My Water Heater Is Too Old
You probably have wondered, “how long do water heaters last?”
Depending on the manufacturer, heater quality, and with proper maintenance, the life expectancy of a water heater is about eight to twelve years.
But not all water heaters are made equal. Some even have shorter lifespans. For instance, gas water heaters last between six and eight years.
Like all things, water heaters have a limited useful lifespan.
If your water tank is ten years or older, it may be time to consider replacement options.
Remember that the important thing here is to learn to identify when you have to change it for a new one.
It Makes Knocking Noises
If your water heater is making knocking noises, then it’s a sign that you need to get a new one. Loud noises are an indication of sediment buildup.
In other words, the sediment accumulates, and it can go around the components of your tank, causing rumbling, gurgling, and knocking sounds.
You can avoid the premature failure of your water heater by flushing it at least once every year to remove sediments from your tank’s heating components.
But keep in mind that knocking noises can mean that your water heater has reached its useful life. So, it’s better to call an expert plumber near you so that you can know exactly your water heater’s issue.
My Water Heater Is Leaking
Another sign of when to replace your water heater is leaking.
If you notice moisture around your water heater, you may have a small leak or a fracture in the tank.
The most common cause of water leakage can be slight fractures due to metal expansion. In other words, as metal heats, it expands, and if there are mild fractures, water may leak from the tank.
Therefore, when the tank is idle, water won’t leak, but when the metal expands at the height of each heating cycle, small amounts of water are bound to leak through the gap.
Signs of water leaks include moisture and puddles around the water heater’s base and even rusting on the side of your tank.
But before deciding that it’s time to replace your water heater, make sure no other leaks are coming from the connections and fittings to the tank.
Also, you must make sure that the pressure relief valve is not leaking.
Then if all the connections and fittings are dry (unfortunately), the time to replace the water heater has come!
Having a leaky water heater surely is a plumbing emergency, but there some others. Read the next article to learn the top 5 most common emergency plumbing situations and how to solve them.
The Water Is Coming Out Rusty
If you have noticed that your water has an orange color, then it’s rusty! Rusty water is a clear sign that your heater tank or water pipes are oxidized, and your heating system will soon start leaking.
But the hard part is to know if the rust is coming from the water heater or the pipes.
In any case, if you see that the water is coming out rusty, you need to solve this problem quickly for the sanitation of your household.
Get in contact with a plumber that you trust so that he/she can tell you if you need to replace the water heater tank (hopefully not).
Don’t let time pass, or this problem can get worse.
My Unit Is Not Heating Enough
This is a common problem; lack of hot water is a common sign that your water heater will likely fail.
If your shower keeps turning cold before you get done, you should get a new water heater.
What happens is that the sediment accumulates over time, and the heaters lose contact with the heat source. Therefore, your heater won’t be able to continue fulfilling its function.
In other words, the water isn’t going to warm up because the entire system is damaged. In this case, it’s better to replace your water heater.
For Proper Heater Maintenance, Call a Trusted Plumber Near You!
Proper maintenance is vital to preserving and extending the lifespan of any water heater. Without the right upkeep, you may have to repair or replace your water heater sooner.
One quick and useful advice to ensure the optimal efficiency of your water heater is to drain or flush it and clean it afterward at least once a year.
If you are concerned about water heater failure or if you discover any of the signs above, contact a professional plumber.