Signs It May Be Time To Replace Your Water Heater
After such a tumultuous and challenging year, many see 2021 as an opportunity to start fresh and aim to make things better. While many of last year's challenges will not disappear with the changing of the calendar, homeowners should still start the year off right. One thing that can get in the way of that goal is a broken water heater. In fact, water heater troubles will virtually guarantee that the year gets off to a rough start. After all, most people's New Year's resolutions don't include taking more cold showers.
Aging Water Heater
As far as major home appliances go, water heaters have fairly long lifespans if installed correctly and maintained diligently. On average, traditional water heaters last about 10 years, while tankless units make it closer to 20. However, factors like hard water or incorrect sizing can drastically reduce those figures.
Finding the date of installation should be easy (it's often posted on the unit itself), but an old water heater will show signs of its age in most cases. Poor performance, temperature fluctuations, frequent repair calls, recurring circuit breaker trips - these all point to a water heater on its last leg.
Rusty or Discolored Water
Another thing to look out for is cloudy, stinky, or rust-colored water from faucets or fixtures. The appearance of rusty or otherwise tainted water can be disturbing all on its own, but it can also stain laundry and sink or shower basins. Rust in the water supply usually means that the water heater's anode rod has completely deteriorated. An anode rod is a device inside the water tank that attracts any corrosive substances in the incoming water.
These substances will eat away at the rod until there's nothing left unless it is replaced before this happens. Once the rod is gone, the tank itself is vulnerable to corrosion, which can compromise its integrity and cause it to crack.
Leaking Water Tank
Corrosion is not the only cause of cracking in a water heater's storage tank. Crusty mineral deposits from hard water, excessive temperatures due to thermostat issues, overly high pressure - these can all cause damage to the tank's glass inner shell over time. Once a fracture occurs and water begins to leak from the tank, no repair will safely solve the problem, and the entire unit will need to be replaced.
Water or water stains under the unit may point to other types of leaks, so it's important to track down the source of the leak before going all-in on a replacement. In some cases, the evidence can be deceiving to the untrained eye, so the best way to safely pinpoint a leak is to get a professional diagnosis.
Once a plumber identifies the leak's source - and eliminates less serious causes like condensation or relief valve overflow - they can provide expert advice on replacing the old unit with an updated model.
About Anytime Plumbing, Inc
Anytime Plumbing, Inc has been expertly handling the plumbing and HVAC needs in Las Vegas, NV since 1982. As a family-owned company, they offer honest recommendations, free estimates on replacements, 24/7 emergency service, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all work performed.
