Despite the vital function that a water heater serves in the average home, most homeowners don’t pay enough attention to notice when it theirs needs professional services. This includes maintenance, repair, and especially replacement. Knowing when to install a new water heater in your home is important for both saving you money and ensuring that you don’t have an extended interruption in service. Keep an eye out for some of the signs that your system needs to be replaced.
Chronically Low Output
Water heaters can only produce so much output at once. If you put yours under a significant amount of demand, you will absolutely exhaust it eventually. However, it’s important to recognize the difference between low output from demand and chronically low output. If your water heater is not able to generate enough hot water to meet even a moderate amount of demand, it might be a sign that you need to replace it. This kind of low output is often because of accumulated wear and tear on the system, which causes its efficiency to drop. Once this starts happening, the only thing left to do is replace the system entirely.
Frequent Repairs
Water heaters are among the tougher appliances in your home. They have to be, in order to cope with the amount of demand that is placed on them. No system can go indefinitely without developing some issues, though. You’re going to have to repair your water heater every once in a while, whether it’s due to leaks or lime scale or a half dozen other common problems. These repair needs should be few and far between, though. If you need to have your water heater repaired multiple times a year, that’s a definite sign that the system is on its last legs. At that point, it’s better to replace the system all at once instead of having to replace one failed part at a time.
The System is Too Old
The lifespan of the average water heater is around 10-15 years. This varies, depending on individual circumstances and how well the system is maintained. No amount of care and maintenance will make the system last forever, though. Once your water heater gets older than 15 years, it’s a good idea to have a professional examine the system to determine whether or not you’d be better served by installing a new system. You can keep your water heater operating past that point, of course, but you probably don’t want to spend a ton of money keeping an old water heater operating when you don’t need to. Maximum return on investment is the goal to shoot for, and that means knowing when it’s time to let the old system go and install a new one.
Saddleback Plumbing offers comprehensive water heater installation and replacement services in Trabuco Canyon, CA. If you need a new water heater, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians. We’ll make sure that you get the perfect water heater solution for your needs.