When to Replace Your Water Heater: Warning Signs
Hot water not lasting as long as it once did? Unusual noises emanating from your water heater? Cold showers that have you shivering are a thing of the past. Or so they should be.
We are here to put an end to such problems. Star Plumbing & Mechanical is a veteran-owned, licensed and insured firm out of Owensboro, KY. We see to it that hot water keeps flowing for homeowners and businesses in Western Kentucky and further afield. Should you have any misgivings about the state of your water heater, call us at (270) 729-1961. Our service area covers all of Western Kentucky as well as parts of southern Indiana and Illinois.
There comes a time when every water heater gives up the ghost. The telltale signs of impending failure are easy to spot if one knows where to look. An early diagnosis will spare you a messy leak or being caught cold in the morning. What follows are some of the indications that a replacement is in order.
Warning Signs Your Water Heater Needs Replacement
An Aging Water Heater
You cannot ignore age. The average tank water heater has a life span of eight to twelve years; while a tankless model may go longer, it too will wear down eventually.
Not certain of your unit’s vintage? The serial number on the manufacturer’s label will tell you; most brands put the date of manufacture in there. Come ten years or more, you would do well to consider putting in a new one before the old one quits on you.
Rusty or Discolored Water
It is no pleasure to put on the tap and find the water is brown or red. That could mean the interior of the tank is rusting away, and corrosion of that kind is not something you can put right.
Then again, the heater is not always to blame, the pipes might be. A couple of things to do to determine the source:
- Put some hot water in a bucket or two and see if it is discoloured
- Make a comparison with the cold from the same tap
- See if the rust is present only with the hot water
- Examine the temperature and pressure relief valve for rust
- Check the base of the tank for any moisture or corrosion
In all likelihood the tank is the problem if the discoloration is confined to the hot side.
The Tank Is Making Noise
Your water heater ought to be quiet. But sediment has a way of accumulating at the bottom of the tank and hardening with time. When the water is heated you may hear it rumble, pop or bang.
This puts an extra strain on the unit and is not good for its efficiency or longevity. Flushing the tank is supposed to remedy this, but if the noise persists the sediment issue is probably beyond help.
Water at the Base of the Unit
A little pooling water or moisture is never reassuring. Today it is a minor leak, tomorrow a flood. It may be a case of a bad valve or a connection that has come loose and can be mended.
If the tank is the one leaking, however, you are looking at a full replacement. Metal expands and contracts with the heat and cool, leading to cracks and fractures. There is no lasting repair once the tank body is letting water out.
Shortage of Hot Water
Should you be left without hot water in the middle of a load of dishes or your shower goes cold in short order, the water heater is having trouble. All the wear and tear and sediment will cut into the output. If it can no longer meet the demand, replacing it is the more sensible option in the long run.
Energy Bills on the Up
A water heater that is not what it used to be will have to exert itself to get the job done and you will see the effect on your utility bill. With no other reason for the increase in energy costs, an inefficient water heater is a likely suspect. A more efficient, newer unit will set those costs right and provide dependable hot water.
Get in Touch with Star Plumbing & Mechanical
Do not put off calling us until the point of a complete breakdown if these are familiar scenarios. We are the licensed, insured and veteran-owned team you can count on in Owensboro, Henderson, Madisonville, Hopkinsville, Livermore, Whiteville and Philpot in Kentucky, and in Boonville, Tell City and Rockport in Indiana. Free estimates are available.
Contact Star Plumbing & Mechanical at (270) 729-1961. From 7:30 to 4:30 Monday to Friday we are in the office and prepared to put your hot water back in order.