When Should You Replace A Water Heater?

The Right Replacement Can Save You Time and Money

When your water heater starts to fail, you either do something about it, or its cold showers from now on. Repairs are an excellent choice for most units but might only be an expensive way to delay the inevitable for others. How do you know which of these two categories your water heater falls in? Easy! With the help of the professional plumbers from Lion Home Service, you’ll be able to assess the condition of your water heater! Then you can decide for yourself if a replacement is suitable for you. All you need to do is keep these few pieces of information in mind, and you’ll be ready to make your decision in no time!

Age

There are a few key bits of information on each water heater, such as the model number, manufacturer, and usually the installation date. When you check these, if you notice that a contractor installed your water heater at least ten years ago, then chances are you’re due for a new one. A water heater can last for as long as fifteen years, but this is uncommon as most fail around their tenth year or so. Those that make it into their teen years are often riddled with issues and cost their owners more in repairs than the price of a new unit.

Rust

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Rust is tricky to get rid of, especially in an appliance that constantly requires water to do its job. Most often, homeowners don’t realize that they have a problem with rust until it’s pouring out of their faucets along with their hot water. By this point, most water heaters are too far gone, and the rust’s spread will not stop. If this is the case for you, then you’ll definitely need a new water heater.

Holes

Often seen in conjunction with rust, holes often spell the end of a water heater. As you might imagine, a water heater with holes in the side of it is a recipe for disaster. Water leaks can cause major damage to your home, especially over time. That means if your system is leaking, you need to take care of the issue fast. Sometimes, all that is necessary is a quick tightening of the heater’s connections. However, holes provide a separate set of concerns.

When your water heater suffers damage resulting in a hole, a service expert can repair the hole in most cases. However, the repair is not guaranteed to hold for very long and may even introduce other issues into your system. The safest and only surefire way to ensure that the hole no longer causes you any trouble is to replace the unit entirely.

Other Issues

While these are the most common reasons people replace their water heaters, they are not the only ones. Other reasons to replace your system might include:

  • Lack Of Hot Water: If your unit no longer produces enough hot water, despite having been cleaned or repaired, it might be time to get one that better suits your needs.
  • High Costs: It is not uncommon for older water heaters to consume entirely too much electricity. If this is a concern for you, replacing your existing system with a newer one is a good idea. Newer models of water heaters are much more energy-efficient than those made even a decade ago! You’re practically guaranteed better efficiency if you swap out your old system for a new one.
  • Tankless Systems: For households who struggle with their water heaters despite them being in good condition, a tankless water heater might be a better option than their old, conventional one.

The Bottom Line

If you have an aging system that isn’t meeting your needs, you’re better off replacing your water heater. To put it plainly, you’re not doing yourself any favors by sticking with your current water heater. Sure, the up-front cost of a water heater may initially seem like a barrier. Still, you’ll save more money in the long run on electricity, water, and gas costs with a new heater. Whatever you decide to do, make sure first to contact a local, reliable plumber like Lion Home Service for an expert’s opinion.

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Categories: Water Heaters
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