When Is a Good Time to Replace Your Water Heater? Amy Smith, June 18, 2022April 6, 2024 Your home’s water heater is what allows you to wash dishes, clean your food, or take a hot shower. If it isn’t working properly, you may experience a significant interruption to your daily routine. Furthermore, failing to remove an old or broken down water heater in a timely manner could result in water or other types of damage to your property. Let’s take a look at some possible signs of water heater failure and when you should replace it. Is the Pilot Light Not Staying On? If a pilot light will not stay on, it could indicate that there is an issue with the thermocouple. It may also indicate that the water heater is dirty or is experiencing issues getting air to flow through it. However, the problem may also be caused by the fact that the water heater is getting old. Generally speaking, water heaters last for about a decade before they need to be replaced. Is Water Leaking from the Storage Tank? Water leaking from the storage tank could be a sign that the tank is corroded beyond repair. Of course, it could also mean that the tank has been exposed to warm or humid air that caused an increase in condensation. Thus, it’s important to investigate where exactly the water is coming from and whether or not it’s a leak. The key differences between the two scenarios are the color of the water that is produced and the volume of liquid that is released. Condensation is generally clear and limited to the outside of the tank while leaks caused by corrosion produce reddish water and will tend to form puddles around the bottom of the tank. How Old Is Your Water Heater? If you have had your water heater for more than a decade, it may be a good idea to replace it. This is especially true if you have noticed your water bills going up or have noticed issues with inconsistent water temperature or pressure. A water heater service professional, someone like Mr. Waterheater, can help you determine if an upgrade is a good idea, and this person may also be able to install the new product in your home. It’s possible that your water heater will stop working without giving any clues that it is on the brink of failure. However, there are often telltale signs that it might stop working within the next few weeks or months. If you can spot these signs in a timely manner, it may be possible to replace your water heater before it completely fails, avoiding a lot of stress or drama in the process. Image Source: FreePik Share on FacebookTweetFollow usSave For the Home Applianceshome maintenancereplacementtroubleshootingwater heaterwater heater failurewhen to replace water heater
When replacing your water heater, look at high-efficiency options: solar, thermal, geothermal. A tankless model is usually the most inexpensive eco-friendly option to install and requires less retrofilling for older homes. Solar do require some retrofitting of traditional systems and are best used only is areas that get a lot of sun. Geothermal water heaters are very energy-efficient, but the system tends to be expensive to retrofit and install.
Thank you for sharing this. I only want to add that 10 years is the lifespan of water heaters with a tank. Tankless systems lat up to 20 years.
Good artilce! By the way, tankless water heaters lasts longer than traditional models – approximately 20 years, and even longer with basic upkeep and part replacement. They are more expensive to buy and install, but the cost savings on your energy bill will compensate the upfront cost over eight years or so.