Should I replace my water heater before it fails? It’s the most common question among the homeowners. Water heater replacement is very rare among homeowners. In fact, most of them do not realize how important the water heater is until they get up in the morning, but instead of hot water, they find cold water coming out of the tap. The water heater does not fail in one day; it starts to give you signs for a long time. So, I should replace my water heater before it fails.
Postponing the replacing of the water heater is not good for you. The more you postpone, the more expensive the replacement will be. Sometimes, delaying the decision can create a safety hazard as well.
When Should I Replace My Water Heater Before It Fails?
How to know the signs to replace your water heater? Here are the clues that will help to identify the problems with your water heater.
1. The Age of the Water Heater
If the water heater of your house is a decade old, yet it works fine, then you must be thinking about how long it will last. The truth is, with reasonable use along with proper maintenance, the water heaters may last up to 20 years. But, when the water heater exceeds the expected service life, then it starts its journey towards failing.
Therefore, when your water heater is already 8 or 12 years old, then you already know that water heater replacement in the future.
Some homeowners choose to replace their current one whereas, some wait for the existing heater to fail. Look out for the issues, if the water heater is making noises or is not working correctly or using up too much electricity or gas to run then, yes, it is time you should replace your water heater.
Replacing the water heater is not just inexpensive, but it is also safe for the people living in the house. Some even buy the water heater leak detector to save you from the massive leak.
2. The Signs of Rust
Rust is one of the most important signs that your water heater needs to be replaced. The rust mainly accumulates along with the temperature and pressure relief valve and can also be found in the outlet and inlet connections. When the water coming out of the tap is brownish or reddish in color then, rust is in your water heater and this is one of the signs hot water heater is failing.
Most of the water heater tank is made of steel, and they are prone to corrosion and rust. The anode rod in the heater is built to sacrifice itself and protect the water heater tank. However, with time all the tanks rust and leak.
You can flush the water heater periodically for removing the buildup, but there is no direct solution to treating the rusted pipes and tank. You can call the professional plumber to replace the water heater tank.
3. The Clogged Drain Valve
The valves of the drain can clog while you are trying to remove the sediment buildup. You can decrease the sediment by installing an incoming water filter. Sometimes the rust also causes the drain valve clog.
As a part of your regular water heater maintenance, you should flush your water heater. If you do not regularly flush then, with time the interior of the tank will breakdown, this will not just cause leakage but also block the drain valve of the drain.
The drain valve is spout found along the water heater bottom. It is designed in such a so that, it can drain the water from the water tank for the repairs and also the cleaning of mineral buildup and flushing sediment.
Well, if you are using a gas-filled water heater, the heater will make a popping sound if sediment starts to build up. Electric units also negatively affected by the water heater. If not taken proper measures, the water heater will break and begin to leak. This leakage can flood your entire house and basement.
4. Cold or Lukewarm Water
When the hot water does not feel hot anymore, there is a good chance that the problem is the electric thermostat or the heating element. Over time, the parts of the heater do not work well as they used to before. Sometimes the parts of the heater stop work working together. For this reason, the water heater gives our cold or lukewarm water.
The broken dip tube also causes lukewarm water. When the dip tube is broken, the hot water of the tank will be diluted by the incoming cold water resulting in lukewarm water.
Sometimes, cold or lukewarm water comes out of the water heater even if there is no problem. You just merely outgrew the water heater, and you need to replace it as soon as possible — the demand for hot water changes with time. Sometimes, your water heater is not able to keep up with the growing demand for the water heater and you are left with cold or lukewarm water.
In such a case, all you need to do is, call a plumber and tell him to check the water heater. If he finds out about any major problem, then it is better to repair it as soon as possible. If the heater is unable to keep up with the rising demand of hot water of your family, then, you need to replace it will a larger one ASAP.
Replacing the Water Heater!
Consult a professional if you want to repair the broken water heater. Sometimes repairing does not do much help. Before replacing the water here are a few things that you should consider:
- Will you change the set-up of the water heater?
- Will you buy a tank-less water heater?
- Does the size of the current heater is enough to meet your household water requirements?
- Will you replace it by yourself or call a professional?
- If you are installing the heater yourself, how are you going to dispose of the old one?
- Or, try to reset your water heater, can you do it?
Should I replace my water heater before it fails? If your water heater is showing any of the above-mentioned symptoms then, of course, you should. Using the DIY technique for replacing a water heater sometimes can go wrong. If you think the water heater is not working correctly then, you should consult a plumber first. Sometimes a failing water heater can be de dangerous for your family. Therefore, it is essential to replace the water heater and take the necessary steps immediately.