Performance Plumbing Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Plumber’

Heed These Signs You Need a New Water Heater

Monday, March 18th, 2019
Smiling plumber holding a red wrench next to indoor plumbing and water heater system.

You know what would be great? If all the appliances and equipment we use in our homes to maintain and improve comfort lasted forever, with no need for repair or replacement. Unfortunately, this is just not the case, and your water heater definitely isn’t an exception to the rule. This system goes through a lot of wear and tear, especially when you consider just how much use it gets each and every day to help you clean, bathe, wash clothes and dishes, and more. If you’re unsure whether to repair or upgrade, review these water heater replacement tips.

What are the signs you need a new water heater?

Several warning signs indicate it may be time for a replacement instead of another water heater service. Common signs homeowners should watch for include:

  • Water heater is over 8 to 12 years old
  • Rust-colored or discolored hot water
  • Rumbling or banging noises from the tank
  • Water leaks around the base of the unit
  • Inconsistent or insufficient hot water

If these problems occur frequently, professional water heater services can inspect the system and determine whether repair or full replacement is the better solution.

What Are Common Signs You Need a New Water Heater?

  • Checking the unit’s age, capacity, and manufacturer label to compare expected lifespan
  • Inspecting visible parts for rust, corrosion, leaks, or worn connections
  • Confirming whether your current system is gas, electric, tankless, or hybrid before choosing a replacement
  • Measuring the installation area and access points to avoid fit or clearance issues
  • Reviewing venting, plumbing hookups, and code requirements that may affect replacement
  • Preventing bigger breakdowns, water damage, and unnecessary replacement costs

You need your water heater to work flawlessly every day, all year long. This is why it’s important to keep up on maintenance and repairs. But when are repairs just not enough anymore? At what point do you admit you need a new water heater? We could tell you “when it has reached 20 years old” and leave it at that. But this will really depend on how well cared for your water heater is, what the manufacturer’s expected lifespan is for the system, and the type of hot water heater you have, depending on your home’s needs. Read on to learn some signs that it is, in fact, time to replace your tank water heater, and homeowners should find the model age/label and inspect visible parts when evaluating whether replacement is needed, especially since many homes use a 40-50 gallon hot water tank, while conventional gas or electric tank models are standard for higher-demand households.

A tankless water heater can be a space-saving new one that delivers endless hot water, while a hybrid model uses ambient heat for efficiency. Swapping in a same-type unit can be relatively easy, while tight access, venting changes, or fuel-source changes can make the job hard.

When you purchase a replacement, choosing a new tank of similar size and setup usually keeps the installation simpler and is usually the most cost-effective installation path.

Continue Reading

Is It Time to Schedule a Drain Cleaning?

Monday, March 4th, 2019

plumber-working-with-drain-snakeThe drain and sewer system connected to your home is one of the most important components of your plumbing system. If the drain system isn’t maintained as it should be, it can cause serious problems for the entire plumbing system. Fortunately, it’s actually pretty easy to keep your drain system in good shape.

All it takes is scheduling drain cleaning service on a routine basis—once a year—as a part of your overall plumbing maintenance. Still though, it may end up that you need drain cleaning between maintenance appointments, and therefore it’s important to know the signs you should watch for if this is the case.

Continue Reading

How to Keep Your Plumbing System Healthy

Monday, February 18th, 2019

family-washing-hands-at-kitchen-sinkThe number one way to keep your plumbing system healthy is by hiring professionals to work on your plumbing system. The standard of which professional plumbers work is in place to ensure that homeowners are left with systems that work as efficiently and effectively as they should for as long as they should. So, if you do find yourself in need of plumbing repairs or want to look into a new plumbing installation, be sure to call on our pros!

A licensed professional plumbing company will know how to do any job with utmost safety. Plus, we are licensed for plumbing work in our area. Keep reading for more benefits of professional plumbing services.

Continue Reading

Tips for Keeping Your Water Heater in Top Shape

Monday, February 4th, 2019

water-heaterIf you’re like most homeowners, you probably don’t think very much about how hard your water heater works for you on a regular basis. But, you should. Your home’s water heater is probably the hardest working system in your entire living space. Most water heaters don’t even ever fully turn off—rather, they operate day and night to provide a standing supply of hot water for whenever you need it. At least, this is the case if you have a storage tank water heater.

Generating all of this hot water understandably puts a lot of wear and tear on the system over the years. Therefore, it’s essential that you take steps to help it last as long as it can. In order to get the best return on investment from your home’s water heater, we encourage you to follow the tips below. And remember, even if you have a tankless water heater, it also needs regular care.

Continue Reading

With More Winter Storms Ahead, is Your Plumbing Protected?

Monday, January 21st, 2019

Icicles hanging from a brown pipe. Frozen water and metal surface, winter time concept. selective focus shallow depth of field photoDid you know that it only takes a few hours for a pipe to freeze? Most homeowners don’t realize that, and with plenty of cold weather still ahead for us (especially at night), this isn’t something you should just brush off. First, it’s important to know how to prevent such an incident from happening.

However, if you’ve found yourself already facing this winter plumbing problem and it hasn’t let to a plumbing emergency yet, we still urge you to act quickly and contact a professional plumber in St. Charles, MO, so that it doesn’t turn into an emergency!

Continue Reading

Call for Repairs if You Notice These Plumbing Symptoms

Monday, November 26th, 2018

leaking-copper-pipeWithout the right professional experience or plumbing equipment, problems with your plumbing system can definitely be hard to pinpoint. Most of the system is hidden from view, after all, and the issues that usually impact it are subtle to start. This is part of the reason we stress how important it is to schedule routine preventive maintenance with a professional plumber in St. Peters, MO each year.

However, even with maintenance, you may run into a plumbing problem, which is why it’s so vital for homeowners to know what signs to look for that indicate a problem. This way, if something does happen between maintenance appointments, you can get it managed sooner rather than later, which is always a good thing when it comes to plumbing and water damage! So, what symptoms should you watch for?

Continue Reading