Water heaters are, historically, very sturdy systems, designed to last quite a long time. This is especially true if you care for yours properly by scheduling routine maintenance for it. It’s important to note, though, than no matter how well you take care of your water heater, it won’t last forever.
The trick is being able to recognize when your water heater is, in fact, on its last legs so you can upgrade it before it has a chance to break down on you entirely—something that is inconvenient any time of the year, but especially in the winter! Do you really want to find out your water heater failed by hopping into the shower and be greeted with ice-cold water? We didn’t think so!
So without further ado, below are some warning signs that indicate it’s time for you to go ahead and explore a water heater replacement.
It’s Struggling to Provide Hot Water
Understandably, if you put enough demand on your water heater, it will be overwhelmed to the point that it can’t provide you with hot water until the tank refills. But that’s not what we are referring to here—there’s a difference between exhausting your water heater for the day and the water heater simply not being able to provide you with the level of hot water it once used to.
If your water heater is struggling more and more as each year passes, it could be due to natural wear and tear. The more worn down this system gets, the more energy-efficiency it loses. Repairs can only do so much, and in almost all cases we’d recommend upgrading your water heater if this happens to you.
Frequent Repair Needs
Water heaters may develop problems every now and then, just like any other type of home comfort system. This is true even if you care for it with routine maintenance. However, what should raise concern is if you find yourself constantly calling for water heater repairs multiple times a year. This frequency in breakdowns isn’t normal and may indicate that your water heater has almost reached the end of its lifespan.
Even natural wear and tear on your water heater will progress to the point that it’ll cause components of your system to break down in groups. You can try to keep repairing the system if you want, but this is likely just delaying the inevitable, and wasting your money in the meantime.
Old Age
Let’s face it, the older your water heater gets, the more likely the above-mentioned troubles will occur. This is just the way it goes! The average lifespan for a water heater that receives proper annual maintenance and careful repairs as needed is approximately 10-15 years. If yours is over a decade old, it will start to develop issues that can prevent it from operating as it should, or as you expect it to.
If you’re still questioning whether or not it’s time to upgrade your water heater, the best thing you can do for both your wallet and peace of mind is to call our pros for an inspection.