The average American shower uses about 17 gallons of water and lasts for around eight minutes long.
But no matter how long your showers are or how much water you use, there’s one thing all people can agree on: no one likes taking cold showers.
That’s why a water heater is so important to a household. It gives us the warm water that gets our day going every morning when we shower.
So how do you make sure that your water heater never breaks down completely? When do you know if you need a water heater repair?
Fortunately, there are ways to spot problems with your water heater before it stops working altogether. Here are three signs that it’s time for a water heater repair.
The Importance of a Water Heater Repair
In life, many people like to follow the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, those words shouldn’t apply to the water heater in your home.
A water heater is not a simple appliance that you can easily replace when it breaks.
In fact, purchasing a brand new water heater can be quite costly. Sometimes, it can even double what you pay for typical repairs.
Ignoring these issues can also cause your utility bills to become more expensive. Why pay more every month for water use instead of taking care of the problem with one single payment?
This is why water heater maintenance is so important. Keeping an eye out for any of these common problems is the smartest thing you can do.
How Old Is Your Water Heater?
No water heater will last forever. Just like every other part of a house, it breaks down over time and needs to be replaced eventually.
To figure out how old your water heater is simply, look at the first two digits of the heater’s serial number. Those digits will tell you the age of your water heater.
If you can’t find the serial number on your heater, try to find more information about your model on the particular brand’s website.
Typically, any water heater that’s 10 years old or older will need to be replaced.
Are You Having Issues With Your Water?
You can easily tell if you need a water heater repair or not by just looking at or feeling the water itself.
Are you having a lack of hot water? Are you going through it more quickly than you usually do? That’s a clear sign that you might be in need of a repair.
An even clearer sign, though, is rusty water. Check to see if you have rusty water coming from the hot pipe, and only the hot pipe, of your water heater.
To be sure it’s the heater and not just galvanized piping that’s the problem, drain a couple of buckets of water from the heater. If by the third bucket the water is still rusty, your heater is in need of repair.
Have You Been Hearing Loud, Rumbling Noises?
Sediment begins to build up on the bottom of a water heater’s tank as the heater ages. When this occurs, loud rumbling or banging noises usually come from the heater as it heats up.
These noises signal that your water heater is coming to the end of its life.
Don’t allow these noises to continue without getting your heater looked at.
The longer this problem continues, the more money you will pay for utilities and the more damaged your heater will become. Don’t ignore the noises and end up paying more money.
Do you have more questions about your water heater? What about any other concerns with the different heating systems in your home?
Contact us anytime, and we’ll be happy to help you deal with these problems!
