Your water heater is one of your home appliances that you tend to ignore most You don’t think about at all for the most part. It’s just a water heater – that tall skinny tank sitting quietly away in the corner of your basement or garage. Until, of course, you need it. Then you take long hot showers…that don’t stay so hot for long. Or you have what should be hot water that is barely lukewarm. Or heaven forbid…completely cold! That’s why preventative replacement of your water heater can save you from a big headache down the road when it suddenly decides to call it quits.
Need some answers to common water heater replacement questions? We’ve got you covered.
At what point should I think about replacing my water heater?
We recommend that if you think your water heater may be older than 10 years, you begin considering your replacement options now rather than being forced into an emergency replacement down the road. You will need to find the Brand Name and Serial Number of your unit to determine its age. Some water heaters have the date of manufacture printed on the same label as the serial number. However, if not you can visit an online water heater industry resource to learn how to read the serial number in order to decipher the manufacture date. Here are a few resources to help you look up your water heater serial number and determine how old your water heater is:
Building Intelligence Center – Enter brand name or serial number
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)
AO Smith Serial Number Lookup
Bradford White Serial Number Lookup
Rheem Lookup Utility
What signs should I look for that my water heater is going bad or in need of significant repair?
There are some situations where water heaters will seem to operate without any issue and then “pop” and die unexpectedly. This happens, but usually your water heater will give you some signs that it needs to be replaced. Following are some common problems that occur with water heaters that need to be repaired or replaced.
Visible corrosion – Whether corrosion around the pipes or build-up on the unit itself – corrosion of your water heater is a bad sign. This is a sign that the components of your water heater are breaking down. The breakdown can cause weakening of the system and will definitely contribute to your water heater’s eventual demise.
Water leaking – Any water you see leaking from the joints, seals or seams of your water heater is a bad sign. Hot water heaters should always be a “closed” system. If you notice moisture from anywhere else, it’s time to troubleshoot your system. Like with corrosion, water build up can weaken your system and lead to sudden failure.
Rust colored water – If you have rust coming out of your faucets when you turn on the hot water, it is likely that the inside of your hot water system is rusting away.
Not enough hot water – When your water heater has excessive buildup inside of the tank it can cause your water heater to have less space to heat water. The minerals from water can leave a buildup of sediment which reduces the amount of water available to heat. As we discussed above, sediment can be caused by corrosion of your water tank.
Weird sounds. Water heaters for the most part do not make any sounds. your water heater is rumbling, popping, making vibrating noises, or sounds strange – it’s probably working harder than it needs to. This can be caused by sediment buildup on the bottom of the tank and can lead to additional issues.
Avoid the Need to Repair or Replace Your Water Heater
If you notice any of the above issues don’t wait for your water heater to completely break down. That can lead to cold showers and emergency water heater replacement. Why run the risk of being stuck with no hot water? If you have to call your plumber to replace your water heater do not put it off. Water heaters are typically one of those things you can’t live without for very long. Don’t wait until your water heater fails to start shopping around for a replacement. You may end up stuck with whatever your plumber has in stock – which is typically an old high energy cost model that isn’t very efficient.
