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Health & Fitness

Does Your Water Heater Need to Be Replaced?

Signs it may be time to replace your hot water heater.

When one of your appliances needs to be repaired or replaced, you often have telltale signs. Your dishes may not look clean after the dishwasher finishes or your dryer may take twice as long to dry your clothes. But signs that your hot
water heater
is not working may not be so obvious – until you don’t have
any hot water.

Most traditional tank style gas water heaters last anywhere from 8 to 12 years, electric ones average anywhere from 10 to 15 years. This, of course, is an average. Some water heaters will need replacing after 5 years, others may last longer than the average. Tankless water heaters usually last longer.

If your hot water heater needs to be repaired, think about how old it is. If it is close to 10 years old, you might be better off replacing it instead of spending money on repairs. Hot water heaters are prone to corrosion because of the high pressure from thermal expansion and high temperatures constantly needed to keep your water hot. Corrosion on the tank or pipes can cause leaks and prevent the water heater from working efficiently.

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In order to avoid waking up to a cold shower, pay attention to both your water heater and your hot water.

Check your water heater on a regular basis. Check for visible signs of corrosion on the tank, valves, thermostat or water pipes. Look for moisture around the base of the tank which could be the sign of a slow leak. Obviously, a puddle at the base means your tank is leaking.

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If your water doesn’t seem as hot as it used to be, or doesn’t stay hot for as long, it could mean that your hot water heater is not working efficiently and you are spending more money to operate it than if you replaced it with a new, energy-efficient heater.

Discolored or rust-colored water when you first turn on your hot water is a sure sign that your hot water heater isn’t working properly.

Paying attention and calling in a plumber to assess the situation as soon as you notice problems can save you from waking up one day to no hot water.

Platinum Plumbing & Heating, Inc. provides and installs gas, electric and tankless water heaters. Call 610-409-6500 for a free estimate.

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