As one of the most important home comfort systems, you need to be sure that your hot water heater is always running efficiently and effectively. Hot water heaters have a life span of about 10 years, depending on usage. But electric heaters tend to last a little longer than natural gas systems. A hot water heater will demonstrate signs that it may be time to have it repaired or replaced. Below we cover some topics to help you determine if your hot heater may be at that point.

Signs alerting you that it may be time to repair or replace your hot water heater:

• If water or utility bills are rising or if it feels like you need to wait a longer time to get hot water.
• Does hot water appear rusty? This indicates hot water tank issues. However, if cold water looks rusty, it’s more likely that the problem is with your pipes.
• While ticking and other noises can be normal for any hot water heater, strange and new noises, like banging and knocking, are strong signs that the heater is ready for replacement.
• If you’ve made repairs lately and the above issues are still a problem, it’s probably time for a new heater vs wasting money on costly, ineffective repairs.

Troubleshooting with your hot water heater.

If your water heater is younger than 10 years old and you run into some minor problems, there are a few things you can check before calling for help:

• Electric water heaters – If it stops working, always check the break panel first to determine if a breaker hasn’t tripped or if a fuse hasn’t blown. Also, check to ensure that the thermostat hasn’t been lowered accidentally.
• Natural gas water heaters – Also check to make sure the thermostat is set correctly. If water isn’t heating, there may be an issue with the pilot light which should ALWAYS be worked on by a professional. A technician can flush the tank to clear sediment as another troubleshooting step.

To learn more about hot water heater repair or replacement, call your local Leffler Energy team.