5 Key Signs That You Need to Replace Your Water Heater

The water heater is an important appliance used in a home. Most homeowners depend on the appliance for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Also, other appliances, including washing machines and dishwashers, depend on a water heater.

While a water heater is an important part of a home, it is also vulnerable to wear and tear and requires replacement. Usually, water heaters last for eight years before they require replacement. However, some signs show you will need to replace your heater. Some of these signs include the following:

1.  Hot Water Not Lasting Longer

Lack of hot water is a sign that will require you to replace the system. Water heaters worsen as they grow older and lose capacity due to sediment buildup.

The lack of hot water in a hot water cylinder indicates that your unit isn’t working properly and requires replacement.

If the supply of hot water becomes a problem, you will have to consider getting a tankless water heater that provides the entire household with a constant hot water supply.

2.  Frequent Repairs

You need to replace the unit if your water heater has only reached mid-life and gets frequent repairs. A few aspects, like regular preventive maintenance or heavy household use, often cause premature wear and tear. In these instances, replacing your system will be more affordable than repairing it.

3.  Doesn’t Generate Hot Water

Like most homeowners, you don’t like a sudden blast of cold water in the middle of a hot shower. As a water heater grows older, it loses its capability to heat water and becomes less efficient.

If the problem is a broken heating component and the unit is still new, a professional and licensed plumber may help to replace it, thus saving you the cost of replacing the entire system.

4. Corrosion and Rust

Corrosion and rust in the water tank are clear signs that your unit has reached its lifespan. If you start noticing a rust in the hot water from the shower or tap, you must replace your system.

This is usually a sign that your system is worn out and can ruin the entire unit. The rust in the tank is more likely to damage other appliances in your home, like washing machines and dishwashers, not to mention your plumbing system.

5. Leaking

When something starts to leak, then it is an indication that something is wrong. When your tank is filled with hot water, it can be very dangerous.

If the metal in your water heater gets hot, it will expand and contract. And if the metal is old, the overused heater will start to crack, resulting in leaks around the unit.

Once you start noticing puddles when using the water heater, you are more likely to leak, requiring you to replace the unit.

If your concern is about your water heater’s state, it would be best to contact an expert for help and advice. Although regular preventive maintenance may help use the unit to the maximum, a system has reached its lifecycle, leaks, or has rust/corrosion and requires immediate replacement.