When a Water Heater Should Be Repaired
If you have noticed your water heater misbehaving, does that mean it needs to be replaced? Maybe not. Today, we’re going to explore what a homeowner can expect if his water heater starts making odd sounds or the water temperature fluctuates.
If the water heater is less than 15 years old, and you’ve maintained it diligently, a repair might be a better option than a replacement. The exception to this is when it’s the second or third repair in a short time.
Some of the problems of water heaters aren’t easy to determine, because a water heater contains most of the working components on the inside of the tank. But, even these hidden issues will produce symptoms.
Signs water heater repair is necessary
If your water heater starts thumping, rattling or knocking. In some cases, it’s a bit quiet, and can’t be heard unless you’re close to the tank. In other cases, multiple people in the house can hear it.
Stinky rotten egg odor, a sulfur smell, is a sign that your tank has an excess of sediment buildup. Sediment can cause other issues that require repair, but the odor may be the tip-off.
Another sign repair is necessary is when the heater produces variations in the heat of the water. Maybe the hot water doesn’t last as long or doesn’t get hot at all.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all of the signs a water heater needs to be repaired. But they’re good ways for the homeowner to realize there is a problem with the water heater. They can, if dealt with quickly, get a water heater back on track and squeeze more life out of it--sometimes quite a bit more than one would expect.
A sustainable option
If a unit is young and not leaking, repair is almost always a good option. Because there is so much focus on sustainability lately, it’s important to remember that throwing out an old water heater before it’s lived it’s full life and replacing it with a “more efficient” system isn’t necessarily going to be a better choice. Let your water heater have a whole life!
When the time comes
There are times when a water heater does need to be replaced. When that happens, we urge our customers to consider an Energy Star water heater. A water heater is one of those appliances that is used by a family every day so that the energy savings can add up over the life of the unit.
Much Better Plumbing is the premier residential and commercial plumbing service for homeowners and businesses in the Las Vegas area. We are licensed, bonded, and insured. Call us today at 702-996-5220.