With summer officially here, many homeowners are turning their focus to their air conditioning systems, making sure they are ready to keep them comfortable all season long. And when summer is over, their attention will be turned to their heater. What most people don’t give much consideration to, is a home comfort appliance they use year-round: their water heater.
This system is designed to last for quite a while, especially if they are properly maintained and cared for. No appliance or electrical system lasts forever, though, and eventually you will need an Olympia, WA water heater replacement. But what if you don’t know if the time has come to start shopping for a new water heater? Are there signs to watch out for?
Certainly! Keep reading to learn more.
Sign #1: Old Age
This is one of the most apparent indicators that your water heater should be replaced. Aside from catastrophic issues, old age is a leading cause of water heater failure. The standard water heater, when well cared for, can last one or two decades.
Typically, once a water heater surpasses the age of 15, it will begin trending downhill. The system will develop more and more problems, becoming more costly to maintain. It will also require frequent repairs, which will end up costing you more in the long run than it probably would just to get a new system.
Sign #2: Low Output
Whether you’re utilizing a traditional tank water heater or have already upgraded to a tankless system, eventually it can be subjected to enough demand that it will be overwhelmed and unable to deliver all the hot water you’re demanding from it. If your water heater consistently has problems providing hot water for even basic needs, however, then you should have a professional take a look.
Consistently low hot water output can be due to a variety of possible reasons, including basic wear and tear. As your water heater gets older, it loses more and more operating efficiency until it just can’t keep up anymore. There’s nothing you can do in this case, other than replace the water heater.
Sign #3: Frequent Repair Issues or Breakdowns
Water heaters tend to be pretty resistant to developing problems, in comparison to other major home appliances. But this doesn’t mean they’re completely immune to problems! You’ll likely need to have repairs done on your water heater more than once over the course of its lifespan.
If you find yourself calling for repairs multiple times a year, however, you should know that this frequency is out of the norm. A water heater that needs to be repaired that often is likely pretty close to the end of its lifespan, as components begin failing under years of wear and tear.
You have two choices when you find yourself facing repairs this often. You can have a new system installed now, or you can continue to get repairs done on your current water heater until it breaks down permanently. It’s almost always more cost effective to replace your water heater outright than to replace it piece by piece as components fail. This is particularly true if any rust and/or corrosion has affected it, since you’ll likely end up needing to replace the system before you were ready to anyway.
For reliable plumbing services, contact Brooks Plumbing Co. today.
