When is it Time For a New Water Heater?

If you are a home owner, or if you rent a home you have probably dealt with a water heater. From time to time they can get clogged with lime (unless you have a water softener) or the elements go out. Most home owners, at least once, have had to get under their water heater to fix it. However, there comes a time when it is more cost effective to replace the existing water heater with a new one. What are the signs? When will you know you need a new water heater? A water heater is not something you tend to buy on impulse. They are pretty standard equipment and come with few bells and whistles. Fortunately for home owners, the heater itself, will tell you.

You might see a bunch of corrosion on the bottom of the tank, but not any leaks yet. This is a good time to do some cleaning and inspection. An inspection might save you some headaches latter on. Check for serious corrosion and possible leak spots. One suggestion is to drain the unit once per year to help clear out any sediment in the base. This could also be a time for a judgment call on a new water heater.

Another tell-tale sign is that there might be a sudden leak at the base of the unit. A unit will tend to corrode from the inside out. When water is heated, the minerals get left behind, or deposited on the bottom of the tank. When warm water is being used, it exits the tank from the outlet pipe and new, cooler water comes in. This action keeps the mineral sediment at the bottom of the tank. Thus, after time, the base gets corroded through and will leak. In short, if you see water coming from the bottom of the tank, get help soon.

Some folks even say that their water heater started clacking, or banging just prior to going out. Others have noticed the water supply diminishing over time, or the pipes making noise when running hot water. The general advice is that when these noises occur, usually when the unit is 10-13 years old, it is time to start shopping.

A consoling note is that if your water heater is in the basement, or someplace where it won't damage anything if it leaks, it is no big deal. Units are fairly inexpensive and relatively easy to replace. Just remember, if you start to hear clanking pipes or popping sounds from the unit, take a trip to the hardware store.