People rarely think about their water heaters until they stop working. A broken water heater not only means no hot water for bathing, washing, and doing dishes, but it can also lead to floods and costly remediation. That is why you should replace your water heater before any major problems appear. You can expect your water heater to last 10-15 years if it’s properly maintained. If your heater is over ten years old and your starting to see the signs of a worn-out water heater, then replace it.
The Top Five Signs You Need to Replace Your Water Heater
1. The Age of Your Water Heater:
If you don’t remember the last time you replaced your water heater, it may be time. Units older than fifteen years usually have an excessive buildup of sediment and are prone to leaking. You can check when your water heater was manufactured by looking at the serial number on your unit. Most serial numbers start with a letter that represents the month. The next two numbers after the letter are the last two digits of the year your unit was made. Therefore, a water heater with a serial number starting with C12, which means it got manufactured in March of 2012.
2. Puddles of Water Around the Base of Your Water Heater:
First, check the pipes connecting to your unit and make sure they are not the source of the leak. If they are fine, then your tank is leaking. Even a small, slow leak in your tank is a good indicator that you should call a professional plumber. Professionals may repair minor leaks, but you should still consider replacing your water heater immediately to avoid future problems.
3. Off-Color, Taste, or Smell:
When you turn on your hot water tap, and the water appears reddish-brown and smelled or tastes metallic, it’s a sign that the metal from the internal tank of your unit is flaking off. In some cases, it could be coming from the water supply pipes. When water moves through corroded pipes, tiny slices of metal shears off, contaminating your water supply giving it a metallic taste and smell. Flushing the storage tank is one suggestion, then recheck to see if the water still smells and tastes bad. The water, if contaminated, can pose serious health risks. Replace your water heater if the problem persists.
4. Loud Noises Coming From Your Water Heater:
A knocking or rumbling sound coming from your water heater is most likely the result of sediment in your tank, which has hardened over time. Once hardened, it is very difficult to remove from your unit. Besides being annoying to hear, hardened sediment makes your unit less efficient at heating water, costing you more money. Also, the hardened sediment can rupture your tank and cause leaking. Replacing your water heater with a newer, more energy-efficient model is advisable. Newer models with the latest technologies could save a homeowner up to 30% in energy costs over heaters manufactured just ten years ago.
5. Rusted Storage Tank
When a water heater does not receive maintenance for an extended, period the anode rode will fail, and the tank walls will start to rust. Sediment from the calcium and minerals in the hard water will collect and settle at the bottom of the tank and will significantly affect the performance. You could flush the tank and have your plumber replace the anode rod; this will stop the rust from reoccurring. But if rust is showing on the outside of the tank, then it’s time to replace your water heater.
6. Your Water Heater Is Just Not Adequate for Your Home:
Have you noticed you are running out of hot water more often? Maybe your family has grown, maybe your taking care of a parent, and there doesn’t seem to be enough hot water to go around. If you’re a family with teenagers, you understand firsthand how they can wreak havoc on a home’s hot water supply. It may be time to update your water heater to a larger, more efficient model that fits your household size, especially if it time.
Residential or Commercial Plumbing Services
The plumbers at Big B’s Plumbing in Murrieta are experts at installing and servicing water heaters. We’re an accredited plumbing company with the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, and we have hundreds of excellent reviews on Facebook, Yelp!, and Google My Business. We are covering Murrieta, Temecula, and the surrounding Riverside County. Whether you need residential or commercial plumbing services, call 951-719-4507 to schedule an appointment today.
