When Is It Time For Water Heater Replacement? | Conway, SC

When Is It Time For Water Heater Replacement? | Conway, SC

A water heater is solely responsible for supplying your Conway, SC home with heated water for various uses. Hence, you must ensure that it is functioning efficiently and optimally. Can you imagine a life where your home doesn’t have heated water? Having heated water on demand is one of those luxuries that some homeowners might take for granted. A water heater should be meticulously maintained to ensure that your home has enough hot water.

Unfortunately, all great things usually end, and the same happens to your water heating appliance. Depending on the model, a water heater should serve your home for no less than a decade, with the conventional water heaters having a durability of about 8-13 years. The tankless water heating units have a lifespan of over 20 years. Whenever your water heater approaches the end of the rated service life, it is time to start thinking about water heater replacement. The following are the critical indicators of water heater failure.

Signs That You Need to Replace Your Water Heater

Rust-Colored Water

The water, whether cold or hot, should always remain colorless. Brownish- or yellowish-colored water is a telltale sign that the inner wall of the water heater is rusting and might spring a leakage. To check if the water heater tank is rusting away, drain some water into a basin and look for discoloration. However, you can have a plumber inspect the water heater thoroughly. If the tank is massively corroded, the professional will recommend a water heater replacement.

No Heated Water

The water heater should efficiently heat the water and deliver it on demand. Whenever you notice that the unit is taking longer to heat the water, enlist the help of a plumber for a further inspection of the water heater. However, you can know outrightly that there is an issue if the water heater doesn’t heat water at all. This might be caused by several issues, including a tripped circuit breaker, a defective pilot light, a clogged gas line, or even defective heating elements. If the water heater is at the end of its service life, then you have no other choice. You’ll have to seek a water heater replacement service.

Sediment Accumulation

Does your water heater appear muddy? Or does it look like there are some pieces of sand or dirt in it? Those are the telltale signs that there is sediment accumulation within the tank. Sediments are solid materials dissolved in water and settle at the bottom or against the walls of the water heater tank. Over time, they accumulate to the extent that they can reduce the heating efficiency of the heating elements.

Whenever you suspect that the water heater tank accumulates sediment, you should call a plumber to flush the deposits. Unfortunately, the residues may be too severe to the extent that they induce corrosion on the water heater tank. The professional will most likely recommend a replacement of the water heater.

Cold Showers

How large is your family? Your family size and hot water use have a direct correlation. If the family is large, they will use more hot water, meaning you should also have a larger water heater. If the water heater is small, this places a strain on the unit, resulting in high energy use and malfunctioning of some components. Hence, some people might have to take cold showers. The only best option that ensures every member of your family in Conway, SC, is happy is a water heater replacement.

Strange Noises

With advanced age, the likelihood of more sediment buildup also increases. Noise in the water heater is always a sign that something is amiss within the water heater. Hence, whenever you hear the banging sounds within the water heater while the water becomes cold within no time or is even lukewarm, that is a sign of severe sediment accumulation. If the unit is almost reaching the end of its service life, water heater replacement is inevitable.

Leaks

The repeated expansion and contraction of the water heater tank coupled with corrosion because of sediment accumulation will ultimately result in hairline fractures and pinholes where water might start leaking. Whenever your water heater tank springs a leakage, you only have one option, water heater replacement. Repeated attempts to patch the leaks or repair the water heater will ultimately prove futile.

Choosing the Right Water Heater

Per Person Water Heater Capacity

The unit’s capacity per person is the first factor to consider when selecting a water heater. A single person’s recommended water heater capacity is 10-15 gallons. Of course, this changes based on the number of people residing at home or using a water heater. Hence whenever choosing a water heating appliance, it is essential to consider the number of people that use hot water and how the unit functions. Do the people at your Conway, SC home take long showers? What hours do they take a shower? Will you extend the family soon? You ought to have these things at the back of your mind when shopping for a water heater. You don’t want to seek a water heater replacement just after you purchase a new one because it doesn’t cater to your hot water needs.

First Hour Rating

This refers to a calculation used to determine the performance of a water heater tank, which is critical when replacing the water heater. Specifically, it is the volume of heated water produced by a water heater in one hour.

First Hour Rating = Water heater tank capacity x 0.7 + Recovery Time

The water heater tank’s capacity is multiplied by seventy percent because the water being used makes the tank bring in unheated water. When the cold water flows into the tank, the heater’s thermostat will estimate this and start the water heating process again.

Peak Water Demand

The other thing to consider during a water heater replacement is the peak water demand; the domestic hot water demand varies based on the size of the family and when the members are actively using water. Peak volume indicates the hour of the day when the water is used the most, including the appliances that use hot water, such as washing machines and dishwashers.

Have you observed any of the above signs on your water heater? It might be time you replace it. However, as explained above, there are several things to remember when shopping for a new one. Don’t hesitate to call our plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach today for a water heater replacement service.

Photo By Anze Furlan at Shutterstock

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