Is It Time to Buy a New Water Heater?

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Is It Time to Buy a New Water Heater? Imagine
this you come back home from a long day at work,
turn on the water heater, and step into the
shower to enjoy a hot, relaxing bath only to
realize that the water heater failed to deliver.
Bathing with ice cold water is no fun, at least
not one the temperature starts falling day by
day. But if your haven't changed your water
heater in years, sooner or later, youre bound to
see some telltale signs that your water heater
needs to be replaced. Hot water doesn't last as
long as it should Insufficient hot water is one
of the first signs that your unit is failing and
needs to be replaced. After a certain age, most
standard water heaters lose capacity due to
sediment buildup, which separates water from
heat sources and affects the capacity of the unit
to hold water. If water supply is not an issue
in your locality, you may want to consider buying
tankless water heater, which can provide with an
instant, and endless supply of hot water. Your
water heater is leaking If you see water leaks
around the water heater, it could be due to the
leak in the water tank. The buildup of chemicals
and contaminants may cause slight fractures over
time in the metal tank. However, such issues must
be dealt with immediately to avoid the serious
risk of tank burst. A leak could cause
infrastructural damages to your home. But before
you consider replacing the entire unit, make
sure there are no other leaks coming from the
fittings and pipings. Water heater is expelling
rusty water Another sign that you need to buy a
new water heater is rusty water. A good test to
ensure that the water heater is functioning well
is to drain about five buckets of hot water. If
by the third bucket, the water from the heater
is still rusty, then the water heater needs to be
replaced. Once the anode rod is exhausted, water
and metal, will eventually create corrosion,
which will lead to rust. Water heater is making
rumbling sounds As the water heater ages,
sediment build up on the bottom of the tank.
These sediments get harder every time the water
is heated and reheated. Such changes will cause
the heater to make rumbling and banging sounds
as it heats up. This is a sure shot sign that the
water heater is at the end of its operational
life and needs to be replaced. Be Proactive!
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Most standard water heaters last between 8 to 10
years. Whether or not a water heating unit
begins showing symptoms, you must replace it
every ten years. If youre unsure how old your
water heater is, check the manufacturing date or
the serial number on the sticker on top of the
unit. Choosing a New Unit
Upgrading to an energy efficient water heater
will not only save you time, but also money in
the long run. Modern water heaters are up to 35
percent more efficient than traditional models,
and if water supply is not an issue, then
switching to Tankless Water Heaters will maximize
the hot water delivery in your home. If youre
replacing a water heater, youll quickly learn
that they come in all different shapes and
sizes. It is best advised to research the option
that works for your requirement. Generally, you
want to start looking at models with a
high-quality anode rod. These days most energy
star water heaters use large diameter hex anode
that enhance performance by 20-30.