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Water heaters look like sturdy devices. They should be: they\u2019re essential parts of any home and must work almost every day of the year. As long as the water heater serving your household was professionally installed and receives routine maintenance each year, it should last more than a decade and possibly two.<\/p>\n
But the end comes eventually for any water heater, and to head off possible loss of hot water to your house and other headaches, you want to catch the early signs that your water heater is in the final stages. Below are the five most common signs you\u2019re ready for a water heater replacement.<\/p>\n
This is the biggest warning that a water heater can no longer do the job for which it was originally installed. When members of your family start to defy logic and try to get up earlier and earlier in the morning so they can get the few hot showers available before the water runs cold, it\u2019s time to investigate getting a new water heater. Can repairs fix this? It\u2019s possible, but consult with your plumber about how cost-effective continuing with repairs is compared to a replacement system.<\/p>\n
You expect to see a rusty discoloration in the water from your taps after you return from a vacation. It usually takes less than a minute for the water to run clear. But if you start to see this discoloration coming from the hot water taps\u2014and the hot water only\u2014it means the tank of the water heater is rusted through and the time to replace it is now<\/em>.<\/p>\n The only place where water should escape from the tank of a water heater is through the pressure release valve, and that\u2019s only a few drips. When you start seeing water puddling around the tank, it\u2019s a serious issue. For a young water heater, this could be due to high water pressure. If it\u2019s an older water heater, it can indicate corrosion getting hold, and that means it\u2019s time to get a new water heater.<\/p>\n Some corrosion spots on a water heater can be fixed, such as if the corrosion is on the heat exchanger and the part can be replaced. But usually, if you see corrosion, it\u2019s the end of the line for the water heater. When you see corrosion on the outside of the tank, it\u2019s probably already spread to other parts you can\u2019t see, and the whole system is in jeopardy.<\/p>\n An ancient water heater will be an inefficient one, and that will cause your energy bills to rise. A water heater consumes more energy than most systems in your house, so when it loses efficiency that corresponding leap in heating bills will be easy to notice.<\/p>\n We are a top resource for water heaters in St. Louis<\/a> and install the top brands for homes: Rheem, Rinnai, Bradford White, Kohler, and more.<\/p>\n#3. Extensive, regular leaks<\/h3>\n
#4. Visible corrosion<\/h3>\n
#5. Out of control heating bills<\/h3>\n