Unlike your furnace or AC unit, your water heater is used every single day; the last thing you want is for it to give out in the middle of winter.
Unlike your furnace or AC unit, your water heater is used every single day; the last thing you want is for it to give out in the middle of winter. Due to the amount of usage a water heater gets, it can often accumulate a lot of wear and tear. While water heaters usually last for 15 to 20 years depending on the diligence of care. However, they can fail sooner. Knowing the signs if a dying water heater can help you prevent a surprise. In general, age is the most significant indicator that a water heater needs to be replaced. If your unit is more than two decades old, it’s likely time to change it out.
Rising Heating Bills
Before the fall chill sets in your heating bills should be relatively low. If you’re noticing that your heating costs remain high your water heater may be to blame. As your water heater ages, it will require more power to perform the same amount of work. This is why you may begin to notice that your heating and electric bills rise while your usage remains the same.
Hot Water Volume Drops
Along with higher bills for the same usage, you may begin to notice that your water heater can’t handle the demand for hot water as well as it once could. If you were once able to get three hot showers and now you get one and a half, your water heater may be to blame. Sometimes this is due to repairable issues, but often it means it’s time for a replacement.
Corrosion
All water heaters are designed to resist corrosion, which is why if you see rust you must take action quickly. When a water heater receives regular maintenance corrosion, and rust is unlikely to appear. If you begin to see signs of this type of damage it likely means that your water heater is either too old or too ill-kept.
Leaks
Having a small leak on your water heating system can be quite normal and fixable. It’s something you can expect from a system that deals with water and lasts up to 20 years. However, if your leak is more of a puddle and less of a drip, you may have a severe problem on your hands. Pooling water is usually a sign that it’s time to move on.
A RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PLUMBING COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST
Alpha Plumbing is a full-service plumbing and contracting company serving the Baltimore and Annapolis metro area with expertise in all aspects of plumbing. We’re family-owned and operated since 1991 from our office in Pasadena. We offer quality plumbing services at reasonable rates in a timely fashion. Our trucks are equipped with GPS systems to ensure we’re prompt and on time. No job is too large or too small! We maintain a fleet of well-stocked trucks and also own and operate our own backhoes for jobs requiring excavation.
For more information and to get a free no-obligation estimate, you can contact us on our website, send us an e-mail, or give us a call at (410) 255-5998.