In the winter months, we rely on our water heater to give us much-needed relief from the frigid outdoor temperatures. Generally, we tend not to think about our water heaters as, more often than not, they’ve been reliable in the years past, but when they stop working, it’s crucial to you and your home that it’s promptly fixed.
Below we discuss what signs you should look out for that may indicate the water heater in your Dallas home is having issues and may be at the end of its life span.
Corrosion
Over time, water minerals react with the steel, corroding your Dallas home water heater. However, issues like corrosion on your water heater shouldn’t appear until it’s ancient. If it does appear, it usually can’t be repaired, and you must get a new water heater. If you turn on your taps and see a reddish tint to the hot water, it means the inside of the tank is rusting.
Less Hot Water
Are you no longer getting the amount of hot water in your household that you used to? These are warning signs that the water heater in your Dallas home may need replaced soon.
Age of the Unit
The life expectancy of the average residential water heater in Dallas is about 8 to 12 years. This number will vary with the location and type of unit, the quality of the installation, whether you’ve kept up with maintenance, and the quality and composition of the water in Dallas. If you have a water heater experiencing issues and nearing the end of its expected life, replacement is the obvious way to go. New models are up to 20% more efficient and can save up to $700 in energy costs over the unit’s life.
All water heaters, no matter the brand, must be equipped with a rating plate that lists essential data such as the model and serial numbers, the manufacturing company’s name, the length of the warranty, and more. Some manufacturers make it easy to determine the age of your heater by including the month and year built into the first four digits of the serial number. Other manufacturers require you to check their date-decoding system online.
Rising Energy Costs
Hot water accounts for most of the heating energy used in your home. If the water heater starts to work inefficiently, it’s a good idea to have it checked by one of our plumbers in Dallas to see if the more cost-effective path is to replace it.
Multiple Repairs
This one is obvious, but if you’re getting into the habit of calling our plumbers in Dallas for repairs to the water heater every year, that’s too often. It’s time to talk about a new unit.
In every case, from questions and diagnostics to installing your new heater, Total Plumbing has got you covered!
