Your home plumbing in Hartville, OH includes the water heater and the hot water lines. You probably couldn’t imagine a home plumbing system without some way to access hot water: many basic daily jobs would become far more difficult, if not impossible.
You don’t want a dying water heater to catch you by surprise on the day it fails for good. It means going without hot water until you can arrange with our expert plumbers to replace it. We work fast, but we know you would rather have the water heater replaced before it breaks down because that means only missing out on hot water for a short time, one you can plan for.
How can you identify that your water heater is nearing the end of its service life? We have some signs to look for so you can get a head start on a timely replacement.
ONE: The water heater’s age
Age is the best measure for how much longer a water heater will last. Here are the general life expectancies of the most common water heater types:
- Tank water heater (gas): 10–12 years
- Tank water heater (electric): 12–15 years
- Tankless water heater: 20 years
If your water heater has not received routine maintenance, lower the life expectancy by 2–5 years. Hard water also reduces life expectancy, unless you’ve had a water softener installed. We recommend replacing a water heater at the upper limits of its expectancy, even if it outwardly appears to be working well.
TWO: Reduced hot water volume
Are people in your household starting to go with lukewarm or even cold showers in the morning because the hot water supply is running out earlier than before? This is one of the biggest warnings of a failing water heater. The system has worn down past the point it can generate its expected amount of hot water.
THREE: Rising heating bills
A water heater accounts for the largest percentage of energy use in your home, whether gas or electric. In fact, an electric water heater uses more energy than even a central air conditioner. When a water heater starts to fail at the end of its service life, it will create a significant jump in the cost to operate it—and that sort of increase is easy to spot! When you’ve got heating bills rapidly rising, an old water heater ready for replacement is a likely culprit.
FOUR: Rusty discoloration in the water
You know the discoloration that appears in the water when you first turn on a faucet after vacation? If you start to see that in the hot water taps, it’s a warning that the tank of the water heater has rusted through. Rust anywhere is bad news for a water heater and usually means it needs to be replaced—and if the tank is rusted completely, it’s definitely time for a new one.
FIVE: Multiple leaks
A leak now and then in a water heater’s history is a reason for repairs. When multiple leaks start to happen to an older water heater, it’s a reason for a replacement.
If you want an expert opinion about getting a new water heater, rely on our team for honest answers.