Your water heater is an important appliance that you depend on every day. However, did you know that it displays signs when it is on its way out? Knowing these signs will allow any homeowner to replace their unit before they have to deal with the headache of going without one. In most cases, water heaters exhibit warning signs long before they fail. This article discusses the top signs that indicate when your water heater needs to be replaced.
Age
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The lifespan of a typical household water heater ranges from 5 to 10 years. The manufacturer’s sticker normally contains the age in the form of a coded serial number. A typical serial number looks something like this: E041052638. “E”, which is the fifth letter in the alphabet, represent the month of manufacture, so it represents May. The first two digits (04) after the month (E) represent the year of manufacture, which in this case represents 2004. Therefore, this serial number belongs to a water heater that was manufactured in May 2004. Of course, you can learn more about this on the manufacturer’s website. In general, you should replace your water heater if it is more than a decade old. This is irrespective of whether it has a problem or not.
Usage And Water Quality
You can use the frequency of usage to determine whether you should replace your water heating system or not. This is because the frequency of usage affects the lifespan of your water heater directly. Specifically, water heaters that see a lot of usage are likely to have a shorter lifespan. This is especially true when compared to water heaters that don’t see a lot of usage. Besides usage, the water quality will also affect the lifespan of your water heating system. For instance, hard water normally causes mineral buildup in the water tank. Ultimately, the debris will clog the plumbing lines, potentially causing your water heating system to fail.
Noise Problems
Your water heating system might develop noise problems due to the buildup of sediment in the water tank over time. When this happens, the heating element will heat and reheat the sediment, thereby causing it to harden. Furthermore, heating of the hardened sediment will result in noise problems such as banging, creaking, whining and rumbling sounds. While flushing the water tank may remedy this problem, failure to take quick action would likely result in a number of problems.
Firstly, the sediment would reduce the efficiency of your water heater because it would waste some of its energy heating the sediment. In turn, this would increase your heating costs. Secondly, due to reduced efficiency, your heater would take more time to heat water and consequently, cause the metal tank to wear out faster. A worn out water tank is likely to develop small leaks, which means you should replace your water heating system.
Temperature Problems
Temperature problems may be due to one of several factors or a combination of factors. For instance, if your water heater is unable to regulate the temperature of water, then you need to adjust its thermostat to optimum hot water settings. This generally range from 120 to 140 degrees for most households. If your water heating system is able to produce warm water but not hot water, you should inspect the heating element for signs of wear. Finally, if your water heating system is not working, then the heating element could be broken. This means you would have to replace it. Of course, it would be wise to hire a plumbing professional to troubleshoot your water heater.
Water Heater Replacement Fogelsville PA
To determine when to replace your hot water heater, consider factors such as temperature problems, noise problems, age, as well as usage and water quality. Of course, always hire a professional plumber to replace your hot water heater.
Robinson Plumbing offers a wide variety of plumbing services in northeastern PA. Our certified plumbers will troubleshoot your hot water heater so that you know exactly what is going on with it. The installation of a new one needs to be done with skill and precision and therefore, it is not a DIY project. This is because the manner in which your water heater is installed affects its performance and efficiency. Be sure to contact us when you suspect that your water heater is displaying any of the above signs.
We service Alburtis PA 18011, Breinigsvill PA 18031, East Texas PA 18046, Fogelsville PA 18051, Macungie PA 18062, Maxatawny PA 19538, Mertztown PA 19539, Orefield PA 18069, Schnecksville PA 18078, Topton PA 19562, Trexlertown PA 18087, and surrounding areas.
Call us today at (610) 351-9889 or contact us for any questions that you might have!