Do You Need A New Water Heater? Five Warning Signs

Your furnace or boiler isn’t the only appliance that works harder during winter: your water heater also puts in overtime taming colder water, re-heating the water sitting in storage in your cold basement, and bringing you longer, hotter showers.

When To Replace A Water Heater

Sometimes all that hard work will prove too much for a water heater—especially if it’s more than 10 years old. Here are some telltale signs that your water heater is on its last legs:

• Leaks—Water under your tank or rusty water coming from it are often signs that your water heater is corroding on the inside. This is a potential early warning sign of a tank failure. Since the average amount of damage caused by a failing water tank is more than $4K, it’s a problem you definitely want to avoid.
• Higher energy bills—If your energy bills are getting higher even though fuel prices haven’t budged, your water heater is probably losing overall efficiency.
• New signs of hard water—If you see new signs of hard water, such as white stains on your silverware and glassware that you weren’t getting before, it could indicate a lime build-up in your tank. This is a problem that will reduce efficiency and shorten the lifespan of your water heater.
• Strange sounds—Strange noises coming from your water heater are a sign of sediment build-up. This is a problem that eventually leads to costly water heater repairs or a premature replacement if it is not addressed. Be sure to flush your water heater tank at least twice a year to avoid the problem.
• Age—A storage water heater (one with a tank) will last about 10 years on average, assuming it is properly maintained by a professional; once you pass the decade mark, investing in a replacement water heater usually makes more sense than repairing.

Expert propane water heater installations in southwestern VA

If you’re experiencing these or any other problems, it could be time to replace your water heater. The experts at SWVA Gas will help you choose a conventional or tankless propane water heater model that’s the right fit for your space, use, and budget, then install it quickly and correctly so you can get back to enjoying worry-free hot water coming from your taps and appliances.

In the market for a new water heater? We’ve got the energy-efficient, low-cost water heater options you need. Contact SWVA Gas Service today for a FREE, no obligation estimate on water heater installations in southwestern Virginia!