Your water heater is a very important appliance in your home. Many people may not even think about their water heater until the hot water is gone. The last thing we would want is for you to wake up to a cold shower, or a flooded home from a broken water heater. Here are a few signs that may indicate your water heater needs to be replaced.
Recovery Time
Is your water heater keeping up with the needs of your family? We have four children, and when we all want to shower or bathe around the same time, we often run out of hot water. The recovery time is measured by how long it takes to heat the water up after all the water is used from the water heater. If it takes a while or if it is running out of hot water frequently, then that may indicate a problem.
Strange Noises
Have you ever heard strange noises from your water heater? You may not unless you are close to your water heater when it turns on. Listen closely and if you hear crackling, bubbling, or popping noises, that could indicate that your tank is getting full of sediment. This can be harmful to a water heater, causing it to not heat the water properly. When this happens, the water heater overworks and it causes unnecessary, extra stress on your water heater.
Life Expectancy
Water heaters typically last 8-10 years. If your water heater is getting in this age range, you may notice some of the symptoms above. At this age, it’s best to consider replacing it if these symptoms are occurring.