Heed These Signs Your Tank Water Heater is Dying

In our previous blog post, we discussed some of the benefits and considerations of a tankless water heater. As such, you may be considering replacing your current storage tank system. But, how do you know when it needs to be replaced? Surely it doesn’t make much economic sense for you to rush out and get a new water heater when you still have a few years of efficient operation left in your current water heater.

Water heaters are designed to last for a long time, particularly if they are well cared for. But no system lasts forever, and your Sugar Land, TX water heater is no exception. Keep reading to learn of some signs that your tank water heater is in fact on its way out.

It’s Old!

Aside from catastrophic problems that threaten the integrity and the safety of your water heater, one of the biggest indicators that you need a new water heater is, in fact, its age. The standard water heater is designed to last anywhere from one to two decades, depending on individual circumstances such as how big the demand is on the system and if you schedule yearly maintenance for it.

But generally speaking, once your water heater gets past the age of 15, its performance will begin to trend downhill. It will develop more and more problems, become more costly to maintain, and typically experience a growing list of problems until it finally fails altogether. So if your water heater is older than 15, it may very well be time, especially if this old age is coupled with the two following problems.

Low Output

This is true for all water heaters—eventually, you will subject your system to enough demand that it will be overwhelmed. If you notice that your water heater is consistently having problems providing enough hot water for even moderate needs, you should have one of our plumbing professionals take a look.

Consistently low output can be due to a number of various issues. It can be simple wear and tear, or it can be that it’s lost an irrecoverable amount of efficiency thanks to old age. In the latter case, it simply won’t be able to keep up with your demands anymore, even with a system repair or maintenance session.

Frequent Breakdowns and Repairs

Water heaters are usually more resistant to developing problems than other huge household appliances, like your HVAC systems. However, this doesn’t mean they’re immune to problems. You’ll likely need to repair your water heater more than once over the course of its lifespan.

If you find yourself calling for water heater repairs multiple times a year, it’s important to realize that this level of frequency isn’t normal. Water heaters that need to be repaired as often as this are probably pretty close to the end of their lifespan, as parts begin to fail due to years of wear and tear.

If you’re unsure of whether the next repair is worth it or not, follow this general rule of thumb—if your next repair is going to cost half (or more) of what a tankless system would, or even an upgraded storage tank water heater, then the replacement makes the most sense.

For “Services You Can Depend On” contact the plumbing experts at Doug Turner Plumbing CO. today.