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Your home’s water heater is one of your most important appliances. Having reliable access to warm water is essential for your daily comfort. Without it, you’ll be prevented from doing many basic things, like taking showers, washing dishes, and cleaning your clothes. As water heaters get older, they generally start to decline and experience more significant equipment problems. Eventually, you will reach a point when your most prudent choice is to replace the aging appliance with a new system. Here, we’ll take a look at a few of the most common indicators that a water heater needs replacement.
1. Inconsistent Water Temperatures
When a water heater is running correctly, it will reliably produce warm water at a consistent temperature. However, as these systems get older, they sometimes start struggling to do this, which can lead to significant fluctuations in the temperature of your water. For example, you may experience a sudden burst of cold water while you’re taking a hot shower. In many cases, these fluctuations are caused by either the heating element or the thermostat inside the water heater failing. If this kind of issue occurs with an older water heater, your best bet may be to invest in a replacement unit.
2. Unusual Water Color or Odor
Oftentimes, a water heater nearing the end of its life will start to produce water that looks or smells unusual. As an example, the water coming from your faucets may have a brownish color, which could indicate the presence of rust. Alternatively, the water may have an unpleasant smell. Both of these problems can be warning signs that your water heater is corroding. You may notice your water has a strong odor of rotten eggs; this usually indicates a buildup of hydrogen sulfide gas, which typically means there are bacteria inside your water heater tank.
Generally, once the interior of your water heater is corroding or harboring bacteria, it’s time to get rid of the appliance. Once your new water heater is installed, you should soon notice that your water is clear and odorless once again.
3. Leaking Water Heater
If you have a water heater that’s more than a decade old, you should regularly keep an eye out for signs of decline. One specific example is checking the area around the water heater tank for any signs of leaking water. There are several equipment problems that can cause a water heater leak, including a faulty pressure relief valve, corrosion inside the tank, or loose connections. Even if these leaks are small, they can cause significant issues over time, including water stains and mold growth. Plus, if you ignore the problem, the leak will likely become larger and larger.
In many cases, water heater leaks require significant repairs. With an aging system, it may be more financially sound to forego the repair and put that money toward a replacement system. Our plumbing professionals at Patterson Plumbing will handle the entire water heater replacement job, ensuring that the experience is as stress-free as possible for you and your family.
4. Increased Energy Costs
It’s always wise to pay attention to your monthly electricity bills, and if you notice an unusual spike, it could be caused by your aging water heater. As your water heater gets older, it will gradually lose its energy efficiency, eventually needing significantly more electricity to do the same job. With a water heater that’s more than 10 or 15 years old, its energy efficiency will likely continue to decline until it’s replaced.
When you upgrade to a new water heater, it should cause an immediate reduction in your monthly energy costs. Plus, water heating systems are always becoming more efficient, and the efficiency standards for a new unit may be quite a bit different than when you purchased your previous system. This means that your electricity costs might drop even lower than they were when your current water heater was brand-new and running at peak performance.
Expert Plumbing Professionals in Greenville
At Patterson Plumbing, we are a family-owned business that takes pride in offering top-tier plumbing services in the Greenville area. We set the gold standard in the industry with thorough diagnostics, complimentary sewer exams, and camera service.
Our skilled plumbers always go the extra mile for our clients. In addition to water heater repair and replacement, we offer a wide variety of expert plumbing services. These include drain repair, drain cleaning, pipe repair, sewer repair, toilet repair and installation, faucet repair and installation, and shower repair and installation. We also offer leak detection, rooter services, and gas leak detection. Contact us at Patterson Plumbing today if you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment!
