Water heaters last for years. You may even have never needed to replace one, depending on how long you’ve lived in homes in the past. The average lifespan for water heaters can be 10 years, with major differences between tank and tankless models. How do you know if your water heater has reached the end of its usefulness or needs repairs only? Watch out for the following signs that you should budget and schedule water heater replacement:

Noisy Operation

While water heaters may make some noise, such as when heating in a gas unit, they should not be noisy. Calcium and magnesium naturally occur in water in most of the country. These minerals are usually so small that you would never notice them when using the water. However, when the water passes through a heater, the heating process causes heavier minerals to sink to the bottom of the tank or onto the heating elements in a thick layer.

These mineral deposits can cause noise as the layer of buildup heats and cracks. Minerals can even cause problems in tankless water heaters that don’t get annual flushes, causing mineral deposits in pipes, faucet aerators, and other interior parts of your hot water plumbing system.

When mineral deposits get so thick that they cause rumbling, cracking, popping, or banging noises, the water heater is likely too far gone for a flush to fix it.

Discolored Water

Red, yellow, or orange water coming out of your hot-water faucets but not your cold-water faucets often points to corrosion within your water heater. The coloring comes from rust sloughing off the interior of the water heater and into the hot water before going to your faucets. Corrosion could be a sign of a building leak from your water heater tank. Have a professional look over your water heater to determine if your water heater does have corrosion inside the tank that necessitates replacement.

Poor Heating

Your water heater has one job, to heat water. If your showers seem much shorter lately than in the past, you may have problems with your water heater properly working. Check the temperature setting, and if it is at 120 degrees or higher but you still get less hot water or cooler than normal water, the system’s heating may be failing. You should contact a plumber to see if you need a water heater replacement to restore your home’s water heating.

Trust Best Service Plumber for Your Water Heater Replacement and More

If you notice signs that you might need water heater replacement or repairs, call our plumbers at Best Service Plumber. We service tank and tankless water heaters and can work with you to find the best solution for your home, whether you need a new model or repairs to your current one. Contact us for service or a new Rheem tankless or gas-fueled tank model, a Rinnai tankless water heater, or a unit from another top brand today.

Sources

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-long-does-a-water-heater-last/

https://www.nachi.org/lifespan-water-heater.htm

https://bestserviceplumber.com/

https://bestserviceplumber.com/service/water-heaters/

https://www.rheem.com/products/residential/water-heating/

https://www.rheem.com/products/residential/water-heating/tankless/

https://www.rinnai.us/residential/flushing-my-rinnai-tankless-water-heater

https://bestserviceplumber.com/contact/