Water heater replacement may be necessary for numerous reasons in a homeowner’s home. Convenience, cost-cutting or safety could all be reasons home or property owners need to replace their water heaters.
Water heaters feature a heat-out pipe at their top to facilitate heating up cold incoming water and dispensing hot, outgoing water at different rates, thanks to nature’s way of creating pressure within an enclosed chamber. However, sometimes components in a water heater don’t work as efficiently signaling the need for an upgrade.
If you’re considering a water heater replacement, check out PlumbTech for a hassle-free and cost-effective solution.
1. You’re running out of hot water
Staying warm requires sufficient hot water, particularly for showering and washing your clothes. If you find that there needs to be more hot water available in your home, upgrading may be necessary to meet demand.
Your hot water may have run out for various reasons, including the heater being too small for your household, tripped circuit breakers or rust and sediment build-up in your water heater tank. In some instances, these issues may be corrected with repairs or maintenance, while in some other cases, they will necessitate replacement of the entire unit.
If your family often runs out of hot water, it might be time to upgrade its water heater. A more modern unit should be able to meet peak hour demand more effectively and utilize less energy to keep the water hot longer. You could even stagger shower times to have enough hot water available for all household members.
2. You’re spending too much on your energy bill
Energy bills tend to skyrocket during winter due to rising utility costs. Homeowners relying on electric heating should remain particularly alert for rising costs; recent years have seen many Americans struggle to afford their electric bill and turn to unhealthy temperatures or forgoing essential items to pay it, according to Help Advisor.
Upgraded water heaters can help lower energy costs this winter. Water heaters consume large amounts of energy, with many modern models being more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
Traditional tank water heaters typically operate with a default temperature setting of 140 degrees F; simply lowering this to 120 degrees F can save households between $36 and $61 in standby losses and over $400 annually in demand loss costs.
3. You’re seeing rust
Rust is one of the telltale signs that your water heater has reached the end of its useful lifespan. Rusting steel creates holes and leaks that contaminate your water source while damaging your home, with galvanized pipes connecting directly to it putting extra strain on its reliability.
As your tank ages, its interior may become vulnerable to corrosion due to not regularly flushing the water heater to remove accumulated sediment (calc, rust and any bits from spent anode rods). Furthermore, temperature settings should remain as low as possible (around 120 degrees) to save energy while avoiding premature aging of its materials.
Rust and leaks can force your water heater to work harder, increasing energy costs. Instead of incurring expensive repairs and paying higher energy costs in the form of higher bills, invest in an upgrade; you’ll be happier in the long run with an energy-saving model!
4. Your water heater is aged
If your water heater is over ten years old, it may be time for an upgrade. Even with regular maintenance and repair, older models use more energy.
A properly maintained tank may extend its life with just minor repairs or parts replacements; however, eventually, all parts may need to be replaced, particularly if visible rust or leaks become evident.
When your water heater emits noises such as popping or banging, rumbling, vibrations or other unusual sounds that don’t match its performance, it may indicate internal corrosion, leading to internal failure and sediment build-up, affecting its ability to operate normally. You can usually look at its data plate or label to determine its age.