4 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Water Heater

A hot water heater is one plumbing appliance that Hoosiers can’t live without. It’s crucial to providing hot water for washing dishes, doing laundry, and bathing. Once a water heater gets too old and starts running poorly, it will become less efficient thus wasting water and energy. Knowing the signs that a water heater needs replaced will help you save money in the long run. The plumbing experts at Indy Renovation recommend looking into a new water heater if your old unit is doing any of these four things. 

1. Leaking

A leaking water heater is often caused due to the metal expanding as it heats and then contracting as it cools down. This can cause small fractures in the metal to occur. Water leaks can cause costly damage to your floors, walls, and baseboards, so have your unit immediately replaced by a professional if it is leaking.

2. Producing Rusty Water

If you notice that your hot water is looking red, brown, or dirty, it may mean that rust is accumulating on the inside of your water heater. You can test it by running hot water only (not mixed with cold) into a large bucket, and then comparing it to your cold water. If your water heater is rusting, it could start leaking soon and will need to be replaced. 

3. Not Producing Enough Hot Water

You should be able to enjoy hot water throughout your entire shower. If you cannot make it through a shower without the water turning cold, you probably need to replace your hot water heater. Sediment often builds up over time in hot water heaters, which separates water from heat sources and takes up space in the hot water heater.

4. Makes Banging or Rumbling Noises

Over time, sediment builds up in the bottom of the water heater tank. As the sediment is heated and reheated, it eventually hardens, wasting energy and using much of your water heater’s capacity. You could notice banging or rumbling noises from your unit. The rumbling sediment could also create cracks in your water heater that will cause leaking.

Cleaning out, or flushing, your water heater every year is a great way to make it last as long as possible. However, most water heaters don’t work well after 10 years. If you suspect that your water heater might need replaced, contact Indy Renovation today at (317) 375-4464 for a free estimate on our plumbing services. 

Sources:

aquaplumbingsarasota.com