How Long is Too Long to Wait for a New Hot Water Heater?
Water heaters are designed to last
10 to 12 years before they require new installation. A deteriorating storage
tank will make the water appear a rusty color. It means the interior area of
the tank has become corroded.
Water Heater Leaks
A leaking water heater is caused by sediment buildup inside the storage tank at
the bottom. Most households use hard water today. Mineral deposits and heavy
metal particles travel with hard water to settle in the tank bottom. Without
periodic maintenance to flush the system, the storage tank will continue adding
more buildup.
Installing a whole house water filtering system will remove buildup that causes
storage tanks to fail. A severe leak around the base of the storage tank means
the water heater needs replacement. A tank with water dripping can still buy a
little time for a homeowner.
Heater Noise
Another signal your water heater is going bad is hearing rumbling noises from
the tank when the water is heating. The noise will increase in intensity as the
family uses the water heater. Sediment can cause this problem inside the tank.
It will take longer to heat the water inside the tank as the condition worsens.
A plumber can flush out the system to see if it helps.
Other Problems
A burned-out heating element will make it harder to heat water to the
designated temperature setting. An electrical water heater has both an upper
and a lower heating element. When one of those stops working, the water will
never heat to the desired temperature on the thermostat. The unit can still be
used but only with warm water.
A pilot light that continues to go out could mean the thermocouple is bad. It
will have to be replaced to continue using the heater. One other problem could
be that your water heater isn’t large enough to supply the family with enough
hot water. This is why the unit won’t keep enough hot water for the demand.
These problems mean the water heater should be replaced. Some of the issues can
be repaired while others will require a new water heater installation.