When To Replace A Water Heater?
A water heater is one of the most common home appliances, and there’s no doubt one of the most useful gadgets one can ask for. Having a water heater makes your life a lot easier. Be it washing dishes or clothes or taking an early morning bath on a winter morning, a water heater saves your day. But since it’s an electronic gadget, at the end of the day, you will have to replace it at some point. There are a number of reasons why you would need a water heater replacement.
Even the best water heater has a lifespan of 10 years. Here are a few signs that’ll help you know if you need to change the water heater.
Water heater replacement: A few signs
- Discolored water
One of the easy things to spot while checking whether you need water heater replacement or not is discolored water. If you notice that your water is sandy, rusty, or cloudy, it’s a clear sign that your water heater needs replacement. Now there are reasons why you notice this sudden change in the watercolor.
If the water seems to be rusty, it means that the water heater has corroded and the rust builds are getting mixed up with the water. If the water turns out to be cloudy or sandy, this is probably because of the sediment buildup in your water heater tank. Now discoloration of water can also happen due to rusty pipes or vaults, but still, if your water heater is quite old, you should get it checked.
- Weird Noises
Another sign you must look out for is weird noises from your water heater. Mostly, the noises are heard when the water starts to heat up. There are mainly two reasons why water heaters make weird noises.
- Sediment buildup
In most houses, people use the water heater for more than at least 6-7 years. So as the water heater starts to age and due to the continuous heating of water, sediments start to accumulate at the bottom of the tank.
With passing time, these sediments tend to harden up and end up corroding the tank, further leading to leakage.
Also, this sediment built up results in more consumption of electricity for heating water. As a result, it puts a strain on the water heater, which leads to all the weird sounds.
- Not Proper Flushing
Many of us don’t know that our water heaters need to be flushed at least once a year. Since the sediments are accumulated at the bottom of the tank, it’s quite necessary that you clean them. Professionals should do the flushing as it will elongate the longevity of your water heater.
- Leakage
The simple sign that you can look out for replacement of the water heater is leakage. The moment water starts to drip from your water heater, that’s your clue to get it changed.
One of the major reasons for leakage is the expansion of the metal due to excessive heating. Due to continuous heating cycles, the inner body of the water heater starts to form cracks. You might now notice water leakage during the first crack, but the cracks tend to expand as the heating cycle continues; as a result, leading to water leakage.
Another reason for water leakage is poor fitting/connections to the water tank. Water can also leak from metal expansion due to loose/poor connections or fittings. In that case, you can call a plumber to fix the loose or poor connections and change them if necessary.
- Improper Water Heating
Having warm water in one’s hand reach has simplified the existence of people. But what if your water heater cannot give you the right amount of warm water when you need it the most? And even after hours of heating, you are not able to get the warm water? Well, in that case, you might have to replace your water heater soon. There are three reasons that can contribute to improper water heating. Let’s have a look at them.
- A misadjusted thermostat
If you are wondering why isn’t your water heater producing the right amount of warm water, then it might be because of a misadjusted thermostat. So you should check the thermostat and set it between 120 to 140 degrees to get hot water. Once you make the right adjustments, you can enjoy the hot water once again.
- Damaging of heating elements
If your water heater is just a few years old and is still failing to produce hot water, then there’s a high chance that the heating element has been damaged. The simple way to solve this problem is by calling a plumber and getting the damaged heating elements repaired/replaced.
- Old Water Heater
The easy and simple reason for water heater replacement is its age. The older your water heater gets, the higher the chance of the need for replacement. We all know things lose their efficiency with time and usage. So even if you are overusing your water heater, there’s a chance that your water heater might displace problems.
Most water heaters last between 8 to 10 years. So you might face issues with your water heater as its longevity decreases. So instead of waiting for the end years, we suggest that you replace the old with new ones!
Final thoughts
Water heaters have become an integral part of every household as it makes our life much easier, especially during chilly winter days. But since it’s a machine, you might sooner or later face problems with your water heater. And this is when Dial One Sonshine comes to your rescue. Its team not only helps you with the right diagnosis of your water heater but also provides you with the best solutions. If water heater replacement is needed, they replace it with a better and more efficient model.