The water heater serves as an essential component of any home. Your cooking, cleaning, and showering are all heavily dependent on your water heater. Your washing machine and dishwasher will also need it in order to remain operational.
However, water heaters will eventually break down and will need to be replaced. Most water heaters will malfunction at the 10-year mark, so you need to be ready. Fortunately, there are some signs to look for that will indicate that your water heater is on life support.
In this article, we will focus on the telltale signs that you need a new water heater for your home.
Story Stages
Old Age
If you have been utilizing your water heater for 9 or 10 years, then you should get ready to have it replaced. As mentioned, most will not last more than 10 years, and some may only last for 6 or 7 years, depending on their condition and brand.
In fact, even if there are no notable signs of wear or tear, you should still replace an older water heater in order to prevent a potential disaster in the future.
A damaged or burst water heater can easily wreck your entire home and can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Even an older machine that is still functioning will not work as efficiently. It will need to work harder to generate the same level of performance.
The end result is that your carbon footprint will skyrocket, as will your utility bill. A brand new water heater will quickly pay for itself, so making the switch as soon as possible is strongly recommended.
Leaks
Your pipes will go through several thousand heating cycles, contracting and expanding ad nauseum between the fluctuating temperatures. The end result is that leaks will begin to form over time. As time passes, the pipes will begin to lose some of their flexibility.
When this happens, they will no longer be able to bend when they are exposed to heat. Fractures will begin to form as a result, thus allowing leaks to penetrate and cause damage.
Water damage and erosion will only get worse over time, generating new problems that can damage your property.
Knocking Noises
If you hear strange knocking or banging noises emanating from your water heater, then it needs to be replaced. It usually starts with a mild humming. The humming will get louder and louder until it becomes almost deafening.
In some cases, the culprit is silt that has clogged the apparatus, causing some serious damage. If the accumulated sediment has damaged your heater or pipes, you should call a licensed and bonded plumber in your area so that they can quickly diagnose and treat the problem.
An easy preventive step that you can take is annual flushes. A professional plumber can provide the flushing service for you. Flushing is designed to ensure that nothing is preventing or blocking the circulation of your water heater.
The service will increase the performance and lifespan of your water heater, allowing you to enjoy its benefits for several more years. You will save thousands on your utility bill, and will also help do your part for the environment by reducing energy waste and total consumption.
The Water is Not Heating Up
Going several hours without hot water can be a real hassle. If you are not getting any hot water, or are only getting small amounts, then you may need to buy a new water heater. However, it may be possible to solve the issue by simply repairing a heating element.
Heating element repairs will cost less than replacing an entire water heater. Call a plumber to determine the root cause of the problem, as heating element repairs are less complicated than installing a new water heater, so they are the cheaper solution.
An ill-sized tank may also cause some serious problems down the line. Cold showers will become the norm unless you replace yur tank with a properly sized and functioning water heater.
Closing Thoughts
If you want to maintain the proper level of hygiene, then a steady flow of hot water is an absolute must. You need hot water to clean your utensils and cook your meals as well. As such, if your water heater fails, you should not wait until the last minute to get it fixed.
Call a plumber as soon as possible so that they can come to your home and replace your old water heater with a new one. If there is no hot water, then it means that your heater is deteriorating and will need to be replaced.
Moreover, if you are dealing with persistent hot water supply issues in your home, then you may want to look into a tankless water heater system. A tankless system will provide you with an unlimited hot water supply.
