Your home’s water heater is an important part of your daily life, but it won’t last forever. One day, you’ll need to get a water heater replacement, and you’ll preferably want to get it before yours breaks down. To replace it before disaster strikes, you need to be able to tell when your water heater is having severe problems. At Rebmann, we know all about water heaters and can help give you the knowledge you need to keep your home dry.
Here are five signs that it’s time to order a water heater replacement:
Not enough hot water
Your water heater is the source of your home’s hot water. If you have the temperature properly set and you aren’t getting hot water, you know there’s a problem. There are many reasons this could be happening, and some are unique to different types of water heaters. Electric water heaters might require you to check the circuit breaker while gas water heaters may need their pilot light relit. In very cold weather, pipes and water heaters may freeze if they don’t have enough insulation. Other problems hurting your hot water supply may include a defective thermometer, a build-up of sediment, and a worn heating element. Also, you might have a water heater that can’t provide enough hot water for your home. Give us a call and we can help find the right water heater for you.
Rusty water
There are two common reasons your home’s water looks and tastes rusty. The exact reason generally depends on what temperature the rusty water is. If you’re only getting rust in the hot water, you likely have a damaged water heater. However, if every temperature is resulting in rust, a pipe in your plumbing may be having problems. Either way, you should call our professionals as soon as you can to confirm the source and prevent any damage. Also, you can help confirm your water heater has a problem by draining a few buckets of hot water from the heater directly. If you’re still getting rust by the time you fill the third bucket, your water heater needs a replacement. You can often see rust around the water inlet or pressure release valve if the tank is having rust problems.
Leaks
Old and damaged water heaters are prone to leaking. However, you might not spot the leaks if you’re not keeping an eye on your water heater. Some leaks aren’t as severe as others. If a leak is coming from any fittings, connections, or the temperature-pressure-release-valve, a plumber can fix them with little difficulty. However, if damage to the tank is causing the leak, your only option is to replace the tank.
Strange noises
You don’t have to worry about the occasional mild noises from your water heater. Plenty of appliances make some slight noise once in a while. However, loud popping, cracking, or rumbling noises are a serious concern. Those noises are signs of sediment build-up in the tank, which makes it hard for the unit to run. As tank water heaters operate, sediment can build up at the bottom of the tank, and will eventually harden as it heats and cools. The air pockets the sediment makes can make noise, and the sediment can also make your water heater less efficient and more likely to crack. If not fixed with flushing and cleaning, the tank can become damaged and start leaking, which can only be fixed with a replacement.
Old age
Water heaters are not something that gets better with age. On average, well-kept tank water heaters can last ten to fifteen years. For best results, start thinking about replacements when your water heater is nine or ten years old. Don’t know when yours was installed? Look at the water heater’s serial number and the manufacturer’s information. The serial number can tell you when it was manufactured, but each manufacturer has a different way of displaying the manufacturing date. You’ll need to do some research, but the manufacturer’s website can be a good place to start.
Who should I call when I need plumbing assistance?
For three generations Rebmann has provided trusted plumbing, heating, and air conditioning expertise to Long Islanders spanning both Nassau and Suffolk counties. The ongoing Rebmann legacy is committed to providing Long Island’s commercial and residential plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems with superior quality, craftsmanship, and professionalism.
We provide 24-hour on-call emergency and stoppage service while consistently working to create lasting relationships with our clients. We foster our customer relationships through our commitment to preventative maintenance care, repairs, remodeling, and replacement options.
Accredited by the Better Business Bureau, Rebmann holds a Master Plumber’s License and is fully licensed, bonded, and insured. Our customers can rest easy knowing that we provide a minimum one-year warranty on all products and services. Call Rebmann today to get help with our water heater replacement!
