How to Know When to Replace Your Water Heater

... that according to the Department of Energy, water heating is responsible for around 13% - 15% of your home's total energy use?

Water heaters tend to last for around seven to ten years, after which they show signs of needing a replacement. Sometimes, water heaters have to be changed in a few years due to problems like leakages and noisy operation.

However, some homeowners are confused whether to get their water tanks replaced or repaired, especially if the water heater is nowhere near the end of its 7-10-year life. Before you can make a choice about whether to replace or repair the heater, there are a few things you need to understand about water heater types.

There are two types of water heaters in the market, conventional or gas, and electric water heaters. While electric water heaters can be used almost anywhere with an electric connection, a gas water heater needs a piped natural gas outlet to get hot water.

Although gas heaters may be cheaper than the electric variant, they do have their own set of problems. Besides needing a piped gas connection, building codes for gas heaters may dictate their placement, often restricting them to areas outside normal home activity to ensure safety.

Whether it is a gas heater or an electric heater, in most homes, water heaters are used extensively. After some time, issues like leakages or a blown fuse can leave you with icy cold water.

Do you repair the water heater or replace it? This is a question that ails many people who are faced with water heater woes. The manufacturer states, 8 to 12 years life expectancy of a water heater.

This may of course vary, based on the quality of installation, level of maintenance, design of the unit, and sometimes even the local weather. Replacement can be quite expensive. Sometimes, with repairs the unit may start functioning perfectly. Here are some instances where a repair will suffice.

If there is inefficient heating then there are certain things that you can do to get it repaired.

Firstly, try flushing the tank. This helps in reducing the sediment that may have accumulated at the bottom of the tank,thereby reducing the effectiveness of the primary heating element. In fact, maintenance of water tank requires you to flush the tank once or twice a year.

If this does not solve the problem, replacing the heating elements can help.

This is often caused by sediment in the tank. Drain the tank, soak the elements in vinegar and scrape off the sediment.

Usually, leakages warrant a replacement of the tank. However, for a leaking pressure valve or water supply pipes, changing the parts and fittings can resolve the problem. Most of the plumbing and active parts like the thermostat, anode rod, valves and the heating elements, are designed such that they can be replaced.

Other repairs which are fairly easy, include flickering of the pilot gas light, burner element failure, thermostat break and electric circuit flips.

If the water heater is more than eight to ten years old, then it is probably working at fifty percent of its capacity anyway. It might be needing more electricity or gas to heat the water, or may be unable to do so at all. In this case, repairs for any problems with water heaters is not cost-effective.

Although modern water heaters offer better insulation and are more efficient, they need to be changed after their warranty expires.

Check the base of the tank for any leakages.. You will see puddles or pools of water around the base of the tank and on the floor around it. Usually, leakages of valves and fittings can be repaired.

However, if the body of the heater is damaged and broken, then major leakages like a constant stream of water may be observed. In this case, you have to replace the water heater.

Sometimes, tightening the fittings can solve the problem but if the problem persists even after a lot of repairs, then it might be time to invest in a new water heater.

Corrosion on the heater body and plumbing is quite common. This is because of the high temperatures at which the water heater operates. Moreover, the water heater also operates as an electric ground while heating the water. This accelerates the corrosion process. Corrosion on the plumbing and the surface warrants a change of the water heater.

Despite all the repairs and maintenance, if the hot water supply cannot be resumed, then the water heater has to be changed. This also applies to partial heating of the water. If the water takes a long time to heat, and results in excess consumption of electricity or gas despite repairs, then changing the heater is the only option.

If you think the water heater needs to be changed, then look for some good water heater options in the market. When replacing the tank, make sure that you hire an authorized licensed plumbing contractor to do the job.

Maintain your new water heater by flushing the tank once a year to remove sediment, and checking the anode rod after every three years. This will keep your water heater running smoothly for years.