Is It Time to Replace Your Water Heater?

Fairhope homeowners are used to having hot water at their disposal, so it can be frustrating when hot water isn’t available in their homes. Water heaters don’t last forever, but plumbing contractors are always ready to install new ones. Whether your water heater is aging or wasting energy, a plumber can help you replace it before hot water in your home becomes scarce.

What Should You Look Out For?

• Insufficient Heating – No one in your household is happy when the water won’t heat up quickly or at all, especially when temperatures drop outside. This problem may be caused by sediment buildup in the water storage tank of your water heater. As water heats, minerals separate from the liquid and fall to the bottom of the tank, keeping the burner from warming the water. As the sediment layer thickens, the heating element struggles to heat the water, and your water heater may fail completely.
• Rusty Water – Steel pipes and tanks often corrode and rust, developing holes and water leaks. If you turn on the faucet in a sink or bathtub and spot red-tinged water, your water heater is probably afflicted with an ample amount of rust. Although rusting is common with old water heaters, new water heaters can rust as well. You can hire a plumbing contractor to determine if the rust is coming from your water heater or the pipes leading to your faucet, or you can fill a few buckets with cold water and a few buckets with hot water. If rust is present in the hot water only, then your water heater is to blame. Regardless of the rust’s origin, you should address the problem quickly so that the steel components don’t begin leaking. If your water heater is the culprit, you’ll need to purchase and install a new one.
• Frequent and Expensive Repairs – A water heater repair here or there is common, but you shouldn’t have to contact your plumber for multiple repairs each year. If you feel like you have to fix your water heater too much, you’re probably right, and a new water heater could be the solution.
• Increasing Energy Costs – If you can’t help but notice that your energy bills keep rising each year although your usage has remained relatively steady, then you should consider a water heater replacement. Heating water takes a lot of energy, so if any of that energy is wasted as a result of faulty or damaged plumbing components, you’ll notice this inefficiency by viewing your energy bill statements.

If you’re experiencing any of the problems mentioned, reach out to plumbing experts at 5 Starr Plumbing to determine if your Fairhope home needs a new water heater.