Your water heater has a big job. You rely on it daily to provide hot water for showering, washing dishes, washing clothes, and more.
Many of your other appliances depend on your water heater for proper operation.
While your water heater is important, it will wear out at some point. When this happens, you need to invest in new water heater installation project.
Most water heaters only last about eight to 10 years before they must be replaced.
You may wonder how to tell if you should replace your water heater. If you wait too long, then you may experience a serious issue that results in you being without hot water for a few hours, days, or longer.
Also, you don’t want to be surprised by needing a new water heater since the cost can be high.
If your goal is to avoid these problems, you need to watch for the signs that it’s time to replace the unit. Some of the most common signs this time has come can be found here.
Water Temperatures That Change Often
Are the water temperatures in your home inconsistent? Are you showering one minute in warm, blissful water, and the next, it’s freezing cold or scalding hot?
Do fluctuations like this happen often?
While these issues can occur when someone flushes the toilet or turns on a faucet while you are in the shower, it’s also a problem with your water heater called a “cold water sandwich.”
As a water heater gets older, it will lose its ability to maintain water temperature and constant pressure.
Additionally, this issue may occur if the output line is partially blocked or clogged.
If you are sick of dealing with random sprays of cold water and want to take a shower that stays at a consistent temperature, it’s a good idea to invest in a new water heater.
Unexplained Increases in Your Energy Costs
No one wants to open their energy bill and be hit with a huge charge because their water heater is using more energy than usual to keep hot water in their home.
If you discover your energy bills are higher than usual and can’t figure out why this is the case, your water heater may be a problem.
Inefficient and older burners will use more gas to get the water to the desired temperature.
Electric units with dying heating elements will have to work harder to get your water to the desired temperature and will burn a lot more energy while trying to do this.
While repairs may be possible in some of these situations, this isn’t always the case. Also, at some point, a new unit will be needed.
Reduced Hot Water Capacity
Does it suddenly seem like you are running out of hot water faster than normal? Does your hot water supply run out after just one or two showers instead of providing your entire family with plenty of hot water?
If so, it means your unit has reduced capacity, which is a sign of wear and tear and may indicate that your unit is wearing out and should be replaced.
When you discover your water heater is dealing with reduced capacity, it’s a sign of a dying heating element or thermostat (sometimes both).
If the water in your tank isn’t as hot, you must use more of it to keep the water at your ideal comfort level.
This means that you will run out of hot water faster, and it will seem like your tank isn’t able to hold as much as it did before. Replacing your water heater will help solve this issue.
Your Water Heater Is Old
If you look at the label on your water heater, you will find several technical facts. This includes things like the capacity, who inspected it, and other details related to the unit’s manufacturing.
If the date on the label is more than eight years old, there’s a good chance that your water heater may be getting close to the end of its life.
While most water heaters aren’t installed on the date on the label, it is a good estimate. Once the unit reaches a certain age, replacing it’s a good idea.
This will help you avoid some of the issues mentioned above.
Don’t Wait to Replace Your Water Heater
When it comes to your water heater, it’s a good idea to know the warning signs of a problem. This will help you act and get a new unit before it breaks down completely.
If you aren’t sure that your unit is reaching the end of its life, contact a professional for an inspection.
They can let you know when and if you should replace the unit. This is going to ensure you have consistent levels of hot water.