Signs You Need a New Water Heater in Your Home

No one wants to be without hot water. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to keep an old water heater from breaking down and leaving you stranded. If you don’t replace an old heater early enough, you’re bound to be left with no hot water. If you notice any of the following signs, it’s time to consider a new installation of a residential tankless water heater in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Your Water Heater is Over Ten Years Old

Every home has different hot water demands, so it’s impossible to say how long a water heater will last. That said, most traditional water heaters only have a lifespan of about ten years. As they approach and pass the ten-year mark, most heaters begin to fail. They also tend to be highly inefficient, which leaves you with daunting utility bills.

To learn more about the age and maintenance of your water heater, look for a date on the tank. There should be a sticker somewhere on the unit that tells you the date of manufacture. If you can’t locate the sticker, check for the tank’s serial number. You can go to the manufacturer’s website and input the serial number to get the age of your tank.

If you buy a home and it has an old heater, find out about the age of the heater immediately. Depending on its installation year, you may want to replace the unit before you move in.

You Hear Noises

A water heater shouldn’t be a noisy appliance. However, sediment in the bottom of the tank can transform a silent water heater into a banging nuisance. If you hear clanking or banging every time you turn on the hot water, you may need a new unit.

The problem lies in the heating elements. As water sits in the tank, minerals from the water accumulate. At first, this doesn’t cause any trouble. But the more sediment that accumulates, the less effective the heating elements are at warming up your water. The noise is a sign that your tank won’t last for long.

Flushing your heater prevents sediment build-up. Unfortunately, flushing only does so much. If your water heater is noisy, the sediment is hardened. The best option could be to replace the tank.

Rusty Water Come from Your Taps

Does brown or red water come from your taps? If so, you should be concerned. The issue could stem from a failing hot water heater. To discover if the problem is from your hot water heater or your plumbing, pay attention to the timing of the discolored water. If it only occurs when you run the hot water tap, you need to replace your water heater.

Rusty water is often a result of corrosion in the water heater. Even though tanks have anode rods to prevent corrosion, they don’t last forever. Once the anode rod ages, your tank will begin to rust. There’s no way to undo the rust damage, so you should consider replacing your tank.

You Run Out of Hot Water Sooner Than Before

If you happen to use too much hot water at once, your tank will run out. Over the course of the years, this may have happened once or twice. But it shouldn’t happen with increasing frequency. Any change in the capability of your hot water heater is a sign that you need to replace your tank.

As a tank ages, it gets less effective at heating water. Furthermore, the capacity decreases as sediment builds up in the tank. You might not get enough hot water to live comfortably. If you want to be able to enjoy your showers and appliances, you need to replace your tank.

You See Puddles Surrounding Your Unit

A puddle of water around your tank is an issue you need to address immediately. Water damage causes mold growth and other issues, so time is of the essence. If you notice water around your unit, there may be a small fracture in the tank. Unless you repair the tank, it is vulnerable to bursting.

Fractures occur over time, as water tanks expand and contract with the heat. Usually, cracks only tend to form in older tanks that need to be replaced.

Your Energy Bills Make Your Jaw Drop

An old water heater won’t be efficient. As a result, it could cause high energy bills. If you want to save money, you need to switch to a more modern unit. A tankless heater is highly energy-efficient and could significantly lower your energy bills.

Benefits of Replacing Your Old Tank with a Residential Tankless Water Heater

If you don’t want to have a broken water heater, you need to be proactive. And that means replacing a water heater before it’s past its prime. There are several benefits to acting quickly:

Save Money on the Repair

Instead of replacing your water heater, you could just repair it. After all, a repair is much cheaper than a replacement. But the savings is only on the front end because you can be sure you’ll continue to need repairs. As a water heater ages, it requires more and more attention. You can actually save money on repairs on a new system that works well.

Increase Your Comfort

A new system can also increase your comfort. If you’re living without enough hot water or with a heater that constantly fails, you can’t make the most of your home. You might need a strict shower schedule or be forced into a laundromat to do your laundry.

By installing a new heater, you regain your comfort. A system of the proper size can heat up enough water for you to always have hot water. Because it’s less likely to break down, you also don’t have the constant worry of waiting for the heater to fail.

Reap the Benefits of a Residential Tankless Water Heater

Perhaps the biggest benefit of replacing your tank is the chance to switch to a tankless water heater. When you use a tankless system, you enjoy more energy efficiency as well as a long list of other advantages. If you’re ready to make the switch, call us at Infinity Plumbing Services for residential tankless water heater installation in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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