4 Reasons It’s Time to Replace Your Water Heater
You probably don’t give your water heater much thought as long as it provides clean and safe hot water. However, when you have the following problems with your hot water heater, it usually makes more sense to replace it rather repair it.
1. Your Hot Water Has a Strange Color or Odor
You’re mystified. Your cold water looks and smells fine. Yet, the hot water is rust-colored or has a metallic smell. There’s a strong possibility the inside of your water heater is rusting away.
2. Your Water Heater Is Leaking from the Bottom
A professional plumber should service your water heater every year. Sediment can build up at the bottom of the tank when a water heater doesn’t receive regular maintenance from a professional. Eventually, the sediment will cause small holes to develop in the tank’s bottom. This type of leak cannot be repaired. The water heater has to be replaced.
Another cause of water heater leaks is too much pressure is building up inside the unit. A professional plumber can tell you whether the pressure can be fixed or whether you need to install a new water heater.
3. Strange Noises Come from the Water Heater
When sediment builds up inside your hot water heater, the sediment hardens over time. The banging sound is hardened sediment moving inside the unit. Frequently, homeowners hear sediment moving before the sediment causes a leak.
4. Your Water Heater Is Old
The expected lifespan of a water heater depends on what kind of water heater it is. Traditional water heaters have a tank and are expected to last 8 to 12 years. A tankless water heater should last at least 20 years. If your water heater is approaching the end of its lifespan, you may want to replace it before it stops providing hot water.
Plumbers in Katy, Texas
When you’re ready to replace your hot water heater, contact us.