How Long Your Water Heater Should Last And When You Should Replace It

When you are ready to take a shower, wash the dishes, or do your laundry, you need hot water to accomplish these tasks. Unfortunately, if your water heater starts to experience problems or dies unexpectedly, you’ll find yourself inconvenienced and in need of assistance from a licensed plumber you know and trust. If you’re curious about a water heater lifespan, the problems it may have, and the most common reasons for being replaced, our team here at Boss Plumbing has the answers to these and other pressing questions.

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How Long Should Your Hot Water Heater Last? While some people may have water heaters they insist have lasted 20 years or perhaps even longer, don’t assume this will be the case with yours as well. In fact, we have found that most of today’s water heaters, even those manufactured by the best brands, are made to last an average of 10-15 years. If your water heater is at least 12 years old, chances are it is on borrowed time.

What Are The Signs Your Hot Water Heater Is Going Out?

1. Water Too Hot Or Too Cold We’ve all been there, whether it’s enjoying a leisurely soak in the tub or a relaxing shower. You know what we’re talking about, that sudden switch from hot water to cold or vice versa. It could very well be that you’ve run out of hot water, or it could mean something else. That’s when it’s time to call Boss Plumbing, the water heater experts. The fix might be as simple as adjusting the temperature on your water heater. On some hot water heaters, it’s as easy as turning a dial. The temperature setting is a little more complicated than other hot water heaters. It requires a professional who is familiar with water heater repair.

2. Leaky Water Heater Many of our customers assume a leaky hot water heater is easily visible. It’s just water spraying out of a valve or a crack in the tank, right? Not always the case. There are other ways that it can leak, including the following:

1. A sudden lack of water coming through any of your plumbing fixtures in your home. This is a situation where the leak may have extinguished your water heater’s pilot light, thereby preventing the water heater from heating your water.

2. Water exiting your pressure relief valve. This indicates that the temperature or pressure in your water heater has exceeded the safety limits.

3. Standing water around the base of your heater could be a sign of either a large hole or a pinhole, depending on the size of the puddle. If a leaky water heater is left untreated, leaks can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage to your home in flooding alone. The real danger of leaky water heaters can be much deadlier. Even with a pressure relief valve in place, rising pressure within a hot water heater can cause the unit to explode if left untreated. Faulty water heaters can pose several other potential hazards as well from carbon monoxide leaks.
   

3. Water Is Discolored If your water is brown, red, or yellow, this could indicate rust there’s rust in it. Yes, the rust could be coming from the pipes in your home. But it could also be coming from your water heater. Though the iron doesn’t pose any health risks, it does make your water taste metallic and can stain your dishes and clothing. Is your water white or tan in color? This can indicate a calcium or magnesium build-up in your water heater or pipes. Like the excess iron, this build-up is not hazardous to your health, but it will clog your pipes and drains in the long run. An explanation for this occurrence could be that your electric water heater is calcifying. This happens when the calcium or magnesium begins to collect on the elements in your electric water heater.

4. Water Is Smelly If your water smells with sulfurous, decayed, or sewage-like scents, this is usually due to bacteria growing in the water heater because it’s not been used in a while. The thermostat has been set too low, or the water has been turned off for an extended period.  At Boss Plumbing, we have the expertise to determine the source of the scent. That rotten egg odor can also be the result of a corroded anode rod in the water heater.

5. Too Little Water There are many reasons that you are not getting enough hot water:

1. Too much demand on the heater. For instance if you’ve got the dishwasher, washing machine, and two showers running at the same time, your water tank may not be able to provide enough hot water for all. One of these items will get less hot water. Hopefully, it won’t be your shower!

2. The incoming water to your home is too cold and it takes your hot water tank a long time to heat it.  This is especially true in cold climates during winter.

3. Your water heater has a sediment build-up making it very hard for the hot water to pass through.

4. The heater is worn out and too old to do the job.

6. Strange Noises If your electric or gas water heater starts making unusual noises such as knocking, banging, hissing, popping, or humming, this might indicate that there are mineral deposits in the water tank. The deposits are the result of hard water that coats the heater elements over time trapping moisture between the coating and the element. When the moisture reaches a boiling point, it begins to cause unusual noises. Repairing your hot water heater pump and element is essential. That is unless they’re coated beyond repair, and in that case, they need to be replaced. We recommend you call a licensed plumber, such as Boss Plumbing. We have extensive knowledge and experience to know what we’re doing.

When Should You Replace Your Water Heater? If your water heater is experiencing any of the above-mentioned problems and is at least 10 years old, chances are it’s time to replace it with a new one. Otherwise, you’ll probably need one repair after another, and ultimately a new water heater anyway. Finally, if the heater is leaking, it’s best to replace it sooner rather than later. By doing so, chances are you will be able to avoid a situation where your water heater leaks a large amount of water, which could result in substantial property damage.

Can You Install a Hot Water Heater Yourself? Unfortunately, the answer is no. This is a task better suited for a professional plumber who will be able to install your new water heater safely. Here at Boss Plumbing, we have fully-trained service technicians who also know the various types of paperwork and permits that will be required prior to doing any work. This is important should you ever sell your home, since information must be disclosed regarding any work that has been done along the way.

How Long Does a Hot Water Heater Installation Take? In most cases, hot water heater installation takes no more than one day for an experienced service technician, and in many instances it may only take perhaps half a day. Of course, each job is unique, and thus installation times can vary based on the complexities that go into hooking up the hot water heater and making sure everything is working correctly. Since this is one job that should never be hurried through, we at Boss Plumbing take the time to make sure it is done correctly the first time.

Can Your Water Heater Be Repaired Instead? While you may think your only option in most cases is to replace your water heater, that is not true at all. In fact, our Boss Plumbing technicians have the training and experience needed to make numerous types of repairs on water heaters, such as replacing faulty heating elements or thermostats, which can occur with electric heaters. At Boss Plumbing, we usually recommend homeowners get regular water heater maintenance in order to avoid a problem before it can happen. For example, with gas-powered water heaters, repair and cleaning of the burner assembly is common, since the pilot light can get covered with dirt and become unable to work properly. Whether you have a tankless water heater or other type of water heater, having it serviced regularly can make all the difference. If your water heater needs TLC from plumbers you can trust, contact us soon here at Boss Plumbing.