A water heater is an integral aspect of modern home comfort. It provides your household with hot water, and when it’s working well, you shouldn’t have to think about it much. When a water heater isn’t working well, it can be a major headache and a serious dent in your quality of life. Let’s explore 10 signs it’s time to put those headaches aside and invest in a new water heater.
1. Rising Energy Costs
A bigger electric or fuel bill is often one of the first signs it’s time to replace your water heater. Major appliances are the main reason consumer advocates advise monitoring your energy consumption and costs. Doing this month-to-month and year-to-year will let you identify spikes in your usage. According to the Department of Energy, the average household spends between $400 to $600 a year to run a water heater. You’re probably paying too much if you spend more than $30 to $50 a month. Electric units, in particular, can draw a lot of excess power when they’re old or something is wrong. Gas usage can go up too, such as because of a malfunctioning thermocouple.
2. Frequent Repairs
You can keep an aging water heater running for a long time with repairs, but is it really worth it? The answer most times is no. The industry has a couple of guidelines. One is the 50% rule. If a repair will cost 50% or more of a new unit, it’s better to replace it. The other has to do with the age of the system. If you’re three-quarters of the way into the expected lifespan, it’s time to consider replacing. It may even be worthwhile when the repair is relatively cheap. Cheap repairs can really add up when you have to pay for them annually or even more often.
3. Insufficient Hot Water
You may be running out of hot water because your tank simply isn’t big enough. This can happen to a household over time. Perhaps more people have moved in, or you have children that are now teens. The average household of four that was once fine with a 50-gallon tank may find it now needs 75 gallons. Running out of hot water can also be a sign of a malfunction. One of the most common causes is sediment and potentially limescale building up in the tank. With an electric unit, it can also build up on the heating elements. It may be because of a faulty thermostat as well.
4. Discolored or Smelly Hot Water
The most common odor associated with water heaters is the rotten egg smell. This happens because of a buildup of anaerobic bacteria. It may happen when a water heater sits unused over an extended period. The smell may also occur suddenly because of an accumulation in the tank. This can happen within the limescale buildup or on a heating element’s magnesium and aluminum aspects. Flushing and/or treating the water supply may do the trick. If the smell returns, it’s time to replace it. Discolored water can be caused by limescale buildup as well. If the water is rust-colored, that suggests corrosion in the tank. You should generally replace the unit before the tank fails and leaks.
5. Strange Noises
If you hear any sizzling, popping, or crackling noises, immediately turn the water heater off and call the pros. These are signs of an electrical problem, and you may risk a fire or other emergency. Hissing sounds may suggest an electrical problem as well or a gas leak. A rumbling sound usually means that you have sediment buildup and perhaps limescale. A serious limescale buildup is more likely to cause a banging sound. If you hear a screeching sound, the pressure in the tank is too high.
6. Inconsistent Hot Water Temperatures
Thermostats can malfunction and fail over time. They’re among the most commonly replaced water heater parts. A faulty thermostat can certainly cause water that’s the right temperature sometimes but not others. A bad thermostat can also cause water to become too hot. Sediment and limescale buildup can cause inconsistent temperatures as well. This buildup creates areas within the tank so the system doesn’t distribute temperature evenly. There can be issues with the plumbing itself. Perhaps the supply lines are too narrow or not properly insulated.
7. Low Water Pressure
Typically, a water pressure issue with your water heater will affect the hot water supply only. There are exceptions, such as limescale buildup encroaching beyond the water heater and into the plumbing. Often, hot water pressure issues are caused by sediment or limescale buildup in the tank. You may have a clogged vent. It could also be because of a bad shutoff valve or several other valves, including the pressure regulator.
8. Excess Moisture
Some condensation atop a tank water heater in winter or early spring isn’t unusual. If you can remove it and it’s not a persistent problem, it usually isn’t anything to worry about. Any moisture in excess of that is a serious cause of concern. You may have a leak from a valve or a rupture in the tank itself. In either case, turn off the system and call a professional. A small leak can develop into a big one that causes serious water damage in no time.
9. Corrosion
Corrosion in the tank may occur over time. You usually can’t see it, so scheduling routine water heater maintenance is important. If there is rust or other corrosion visible outside the unit, it usually means you’ll need to replace it. In some cases, it could be a rusted component that you can replace. In most cases, corrosion has undermined the tank beyond repair. A leak is inevitable.
10. System Age
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is waiting too long to replace a water heater. Experts recommend proactive replacement because it will actually save you more over the life of the equipment. An old tank water heater wastes your money on a couple of fronts. On one hand, it can cost 25% or more to run than when it was new. On the other hand, new water heaters are about 10% more efficient than those manufactured a decade ago. You can save even more if you upgrade to a more cost-effective fuel source and/or a tankless or heat pump water heater. The other issue with an old tank water heater is that you’re essentially waiting for the tank to fail and for a leak to occur.
Is It Time to Upgrade Your Water Heater?
High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has served the Greater Denver Metro area for over a decade. Our plumbers and HVAC technicians work out of our Denver, Golden, and Littleton locations. We install and service both tank and tankless water heaters. You can also count on our plumbers for inspections, installations, repairs, and maintenance.
We specialize in gas, water, and sewer pipes, drain cleaning, hydro-jetting, sump pumps, and kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances. Our HVAC technicians install, maintain, and service air conditioners as well.
Call today or contact us online with any questions about our services or to schedule an appointment.
