Is It Time to Replace Your Water Heater?
admin • April 19, 2016

Most homeowners have no clue that their water heater is about to fail. However, it’s extremely important to know the signs, since your water heater is an essential component to your home comfort. A failed water heater is disruptive to say the least, and can be costly if you need an emergency replacement and don’t have time to explore your options. So, how do you know if it’s time for a water heater replacement? We’ve shared some signs below.

Age

Generally speaking, a well-maintained and properly used water heater should have the lifespan of approximately 10 years. If yours is around this age and you’ve notice that it works erratically, or it is leaking around the base of the tank, it is probably time to replace it. You can determine the age of your water heater by observing the serial number on your unit. Different manufactures have different date codes, but in general the year your water heater was built will be the first two numbers of the code. Check your owner’s manual to be sure.

Rust

Rust in your water is never a good sign. If you notice rusty water coming from the hot side piping of your home, this can very well signal a water heater that’s rusting away on the inside. It’s important to realize that the problem may be with your pipes and not the water heater itself. To check for this, drain about 3 five-gallon buckets of hot water out of the water heater. If the water from your heater is still coming out rusty by the 3 rd bucket, then it is in fact your water heater generating the rust.

Unusual Noise

As water heaters age, sediment builds up on the bottom of the tank. Since the water in your tank is consistently heated and reheated, this sediment eventually hardens and breaks off, causing rumbling or banging sounds. Once your water heater reaches this point, it will have to use more energy to heat the water. This means it is performing less efficiently, and it may be time to replace the system.

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