You likely don’t think about your water heater a lot until it quits working. And you’re dealing with chilly showers. It works hard to offer your Gaithersburg household with hot water around the clock, and, as expected, it will eventually wear out.
Here’s how long your water heater will probably last and some clues that yours is needing to be replaced. In the end, how long your water heater will keep working depends on what kind you have and how much it’s working.
Tank Water Heater
The majority of people have a tank water heater that holds 40 to 50 gallons of water. This style continually makes water warm, so it’s always at the correct setting when you desire it. Tank water heaters are bestsellers because of their more economical cost, but they don’t often run as long as other kinds.
Here’s how many years you can expect yours to run:
Tank water heaters can fail because of many problems, but a corroded tank is one of the most frequent. Your water heater has a special component called an anode rod that clears corrosive fragments from the water. Down the road, the rod will corrode, and fragments will build up at the foundation of your water heater, corroding the lining within the tank.
Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater has a much longer life span than its tank-style cousins. These water heaters may work as long as 20 years.
Besides running for a greater amount of time, tankless hot water heaters are highly energy efficient. As opposed to storing large amounts of water that’s heated constantly, a tankless model warms water when you need it. This does away with standby heating and the impact it has on your monthly gas and electrical costs.
You might not be aware, but warming up water takes up a big portion of your heating and cooling costs. In actuality, it’s the second biggest source of energy consumption in a standard house, according to ENERGY STAR®.
Tankless water heaters are higher priced than tank water heaters, but they provide long-term energy savings. They can be 24% to 34% more efficient than a water heater that retains water, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
4 Hints Your Water Heater is Wearing Out
Your hot water heater will begin to show hints that it needs to be replaced. Here’s what to look for and when to contact a plumbing professional like Parker Pearce Service Experts.
1. Insufficient Enough Hot Water
This is one of the most frequently encountered signs that your water heater is nearing the end of its life. You might see heated water getting depleted more quickly, or that it’s taking more time for water to warm up.
2. Leaks
You should call a plumber if you’re having water leaks or water pooling around the foundation of your water heater. In some instances you could just need to have connections secured or a part replaced, but it may also be a symptom the tank is broken.
3. Water Looks White
If you reside in a region with hard water and don’t have a water softener, you’re likely used to having cloudy water. But if your water unexpectedly goes from clear to cloudy or starts smelling metallic, we recommend having your water heater examined by a specialist to prevent damaging leaks. Sudden changes in your water clarity means sediment is possibly building up in the tank and corroding it.
4. Weird Noises
It’s common for your water heater to make some noise as it runs. But popping and rumbling isn’t normal and is a symptom you need specialized assistance. As sediment builds up in the tank, your water heater has to work harder and might need extra energy in the process.
Parker Pearce Service Experts Makes Water Heater Replacement Easy
Procrastinating water heater replacement puts you at risk of leaks that can damage your residence. Also, there’s the annoyance of lacking heated water. If your water heater is past its prime or showing signs it needs to be replaced, contact our Experts at 301-476-4577 to get a free home comfort assessment. From capacity to energy efficiency, we’ll discuss all the options so you can make the best decision for your home.