6 Signs You Need a Water Heater Replacement

Access to hot water is vital for a sanitary and comfortable home. After all, you need to bathe comfortably, wash clothes, clean your house, and have safe drinking water. When it’s time for new water heater installations, pay attention to the following warning signs and act fast.

1. Age

Do you know how old your water heater is? According to Forbes, a typical tank water heater will last anywhere from 10 to 13 years, while a tankless water heater will last around 18 to 20 years. If your tank is near the end of its life cycle, start looking into water heater replacements before it completely clunks out. After all, if your water heater stops working, you’ll have to wait until a specialist can come and install a new one. That may take a few days or weeks, depending on the area.

2. Temperature

Have showers become less comfortable due to a lack of hot water? As long as your water fixtures are still functioning, you should be able to access hot water from your faucet and showers unless your tank is no longer working. If it’s taking too long for your water to heat up, it’s also burning excessive energy. When water randomly goes from hot to lukewarm, you have a problem where it’s near the end of its life cycle.

3. Leaks

When you check your water heater, do you notice water pooling around the bottom? Have your water bills gone up even though your water usage hasn’t? Has your health and that of other people in your home indicated that mold may be present due to water damage? If so, you may have leaks from your water heater. When people think of leaks, they often think of piping and roofing problems, but your tank can also begin to leak water when it’s no longer functioning properly.

Once water leaks out of your tank, start looking into water heater installations immediately. Water damage can be devastating to your home structure. It can ruin your floors and drywall, eventually seeping even deeper into structural elements. When water damage goes to your drywall and your home structure, it can weaken it and create safety issues. As mentioned, you may experience signs of mold by way of increased asthma attacks, lung infections, and overall poor air quality. According to FEMA, it only takes mold 24 to 72 hours to sprout in a wet environment. If your tank has been leaking for a while, it can create a major health hazard.

4. Rust

Has your once-clear and clean water turned to rusty and discolored water? Rusty water is a sign that your tank has corroded and your water is slowly becoming contaminated by this substance. Your water tank may begin to corrode inside due to a problem with the coils, so it’s a good idea to call professionals at the first signs of this problem.

5. Bills

How are your water and energy bills looking each month? Are your water bills going up, even though your usage hasn’t? Is the same thing happening to your energy bills? When your water tank takes longer to heat up, it can burn more energy, which results in higher energy bills. Did you know that, according to the Department of Energy, your energy expenditure can account for as much as 50% of your home bills? Plus, your water usage isn’t just counted when you run your faucet, flush a toilet, or take a shower. When there’s a leak anywhere in your home, such as from your tank, it can cause your water bills to steadily rise.

6. Noises

Does your water heater make excessive noise for no reason? You may hear rattling, whistling, and banging sounds when you turn the hot water on. Those excessive noises may come from a buildup of sediment in your water heater. Sediment can build up over time if your water heater hasn’t been properly flushed out by a local inspector.

As winter approaches, the last thing you want to deal with is suffering through a cold shower. Plus, as the world still deals with the ongoing COVID-19 virus, you want to ensure you can always keep your hands, body, and home surfaces as sanitary as possible. That’s why making sure you have a functioning water heater is a must to keep your home and everyone in it safe and healthy. Keep an eye out for the above signs that your tank is at the end of its life cycle, and call the team at NJ Pipe Doctor for water heater installations today.