How Do You Know When Your Water Heater Needs Replacing? it’s an essential question for hot water users. Because the water heater also needs replacements like any other appliances. It also breaks down after a particular time of use. You should try to replace the water heater as quickly as possible. Hot water is required to do many important tasks in our daily life. So you do not want to do a cold shower! Experts always tell the user to replace the heater before it stops working altogether.
In most cases, people take a long time to change the water heater. So do not wait too long because it will lead to much bigger problems. Massive leaks can cause severe damage to your home. In that case; smart users take an instant action for replacing the unit. Water damage is also a very vital problem. Now the question arises, how to know if my water heater needs replacing? The article will show you the most common clues. The clue will guide you to decide to restore the water heater.
Contents
When to replace a water heater and some clues
The necessary clues to understanding for replacing a water heater are given below-
- Age and life span factors.
- Development of rust.
- Corrosion issue.
- The drain valve does not drain water.
- Leakage problem.
- Coldwater.
Life span and age factor
There is a high chance that your old water heater may break down. We know tank water heaters last on average 9 to 12 years. Their life span is low.
You can double the lifespan of your water heater by proper maintenance. Even if you take the best care, you will also need to replace the unit only after a few years. Every unit needs immediate replacement when it covers ten years mark.
You take a tankless water heater model by replacing the traditional tank water heater. Tankless units are highly energy-efficient and work smoothly for a long time. In most cases, it works for more than fifteen years. It comes with durable parts and functions. It is used for a longer life span.
Rust and corrosion in the unit
Hot water tanks are made of steel. They began to rust quickly. Rust gets mixed with the water. It comes out from the tap. Thus it is essential to check the tank if there is rust or corrosion.
You need to replace the tank immediately when you find corrosion in the temperature and pressure relief valve. The rust also gets in the water inlet and outlet connections. This issue indicates your tank has developed rust or corrosion.
Rust and corrode is quite impossible to repair. Once it occurs in the tank, there is no way to get rid of them. After a certain period, your water heater will start to leak.
Leakage damages the home. It will cause a significant problem in the house. Replace the water heater to prevent considerable expense and damage. You may also install the water sensor alarm. The water sensor alarm alerts the user of future leakage.
Again if the tank is in the garage or basement, you can wait till it began to leak. Water damage in the garage or basement will be less. The cement floor is easy to clean if the water heater gets leaking.
Draining the water
Sediments get buildup slowly in the bottom of the tank. It settles permanently inside and creates many issues. When the burner ignites, it creates a popping sound, especially in the gas water heater.
Accumulated sediments create a clog in the drain valve. It also cracks down the interior part of the steel tank. So the build-up of residue is a problem for gas and electric water heaters regardless of the fuel source. The sediments can remove by flushing the water heater. It prevents damage of the tank. In this way, a user can extend the life of the water heater.
There are some initial steps to unclog the drain valve. When there are too many sediments, it is harder to drain. Small residues can e cleaned easily.
The draining process needs to be handled by a professional so that there is less chance of leakage. The sediments get agitated during the draining process, so it is better to call a licensed plumber. Cause, they will assist you. At last, there is a high chance of replacement of the unit.
Leakage in the hot water tank
Repairing any leakage is tough. The leak happens when there is an internal problem. Let us see some steps where the leakage has originated-
At first when the leak is coming from the tank directly. In this case, you have to replace the water heater.
Prevent water damage by turning OFF both the water and power. Immediately contact the professional plumber. They will help you to install a new unit.
When you find the water is lukewarm?
When you see the water is less hot or not hot at all during use, then there is something wrong. The problem is with the heating element. The electric thermostat is also in a challenge. Over time both the heating element and electronic thermostat begin to fail slowly. Many parts get malfunction after a certain period.
The broken dip tube is another common cause because the dip tube is a plastic pipe and it runs from the cold water inlet to the bottom part of the tank. A broken dip tube will result in much more cooling water than desired hot water. When the tube gets broken the outgoing hot water is diluted through incoming cold water. As a result, the user will find no heat in the water.
Another reason is that your hot water is working fine, but it cannot meet the household demand for hot water. Your requirements for using hot water have increased. So you need more flow of hot water. Therefore, you have to get a new water heater. We suggest going for tankless water heaters.
Factors of Water Heater Replacement
Repair of the unit
You analyze first and get sure if repairing helps to run the unit. However, you call a plumber who is an expert and ask the questions like- the cost of the repair of the unit, cost of the necessary replacement, what will be the life expectancy after repairing completed and cost of the new water heater especially tankless including the labor and other related expenses. Thus you can decide if repairing is worth the time and money. Experts say the best decision is to purchase a new water heater even the old water heater is repairable.
Replacement of the unit
An individual should consider some points when they find the need to replace the water heater-
- Should you replace the system with the same type of the heater? You consider a tankless water heater.
- Did the tank size meet the current household need? If it is not then you go for a large tank.
- Hire a professional plumber for installation.
Final verdict
You better take care of the water heater. In the present world, tankless water heaters provide continuous hot water flow and high level of performance than traditional water heaters. Our expert suggests the user switch from tank water heaters to tankless water heaters. Therefore, it will save money in the long run.
Leave a Reply