Your water heater is the workhorse of your home. It provides the hot water you need throughout the day to take a shower, wash your hands, do laundry, and run the dishwasher. With so many constant demands, a water heater is an appliance that needs to be replaced every 10-15 years.
So how do you know when it’s getting close to the time when you’ll need to replace your water heater? Perhaps all you need is water heater repair in Oakville, ON, and not a total replacement. Unlike a heating system, the signs aren’t always as obvious. We want to help you know when it’s best to forego repairs and opt instead for a replacement. Read on to learn the questions you should consider before replacing your water heater.
Decrease in the Amount of Hot Water
A water heater’s inability to supply enough hot water to your home is one of the major warning signs that it’s due for replacement. Perhaps you or your family members have noticed that there’s not enough hot water for morning showers when there used to be plenty of hot water to go around. This is a signal from your water heater that it’s not able to keep up with demand.
Your Utility Bills Have Increased
According to the Department of Energy (DOE), water heating systems are the second biggest user of electricity in a home. Water heaters use a lot of energy because of how often they’re used. If you’ve noticed that your utility bills have gone up, it’s likely the water heater’s fault as it’s draining too much power. If a repair or maintenance won’t take care of the problem, you’re better off spending your money on a new energy-efficient water heater that’ll bring your utility bills back down.
The Water Heater Is Corroding
Although water heaters are designed to resist rust and corrosion, eventually they’ll succumb to the aging process. If the tank is corroding, you may notice water discoloration from the taps or corrosion around valves. By this point, the system corrosion warrants a replacement. You don’t want to wait until it starts to leak. You also don’t want reddish discoloration in your hot water which is a sign the water heater tank has rusted through entirely.
Extensive Leaking
A single leak from a water heater is possibly something that just needs to be repaired and doesn’t call for the replacement of the unit. But if new leaks keep occurring or if it has multiple leaks, this calls for replacement.
Age
As we mentioned, water heaters last between 10-15 years. If your water heater is within this timeframe and is showing signs of poor performance, it’s a good idea to call our technicians to give you a professional opinion about whether it’s time for a replacement. The good news is that new models are much more energy efficient and a new one will save money on utility bills.
Contact Peatson’s Heating and Air Conditioning Ltd. to learn more about your water heater options!