What’s worse than having no hot water?
Having that hot water flood into your home due to a water heater bursting.
According to disastersafety.org, “Water heater failures cost an average of $4,444 per incident after the deductible was paid.”
Yikes!
What are some signs your water heater is about to go bad? Read on.
1) Water heater is around retirement age
A conventional water heater lasts about 6-12 years.
According to disastersafety.org, “By the time a water heater reaches age 12, nearly three quarters of [water heaters] have failed.”
2) You have rusty water
When water heater has reached its life expectancy, the tank begins to rust and corrode.
That rust gets into your water, making it brown and funky looking.
However, this brown discoloration can be caused by other issues, including:
a) Corroded galvanized iron plumbing
b) Issues with the public water supply
So how do you know if the water heater is the cause of the rusty water?
Do this: Turn on any cold-water plumbing fixture in your home.
a) Is the water discolored? The water heater isn’t the issue.
b) Is the water clear? You may need a new water heater.
3) Water is pooling around the water heater
If you see water pooling around your water heater, it may have a leak.
Like we said before, when a water gets to the end of its life, the tank deteriorates and leaks.
Just make sure the leak is actually coming from the tank itself.
Sometimes the water heater leaks from the drain valve (the spigot at the bottom of the tank). In that case, the plumber only needs to replace the faulty drain valve.
But if the leak is coming from the tank itself, then you need to replace the water heater very soon.
If any of the 3 signs apply to you, consider shopping for a new water heater.
Don’t know where to start? We got you covered.
First, you can always ask our plumbing experts for advice.
Second, we have lots of helpful resources:
a) Water Heater Buyer’s Guide – Tankless vs. Traditional
b) How to Determine What Tank Size You Need
c) How a Tankless Water Heater Solves Your Hot Water Problems
Mr. Plumber is an Atlanta area plumbing contractor, part of the Coolray family that has been serving the Atlanta metro area since 1966.
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