How to Tell If It Is Time for a New Water Heater

We may not give much thought to it but we all rely on our home’s water heater to provide hot water for things like bathing or washing clothes.  In fact, it will probably slip anyone’s mind until there is a problem.  But, if you are a homeowner or property manager, it is far better to know the signs that it may be time to replace your water heater before your water heater completely fails and leaves you stranded.

One of the easiest ways to tell if it is time for a new water heater is the age of your water heater.  Even if you did not have your water heater installed there is a way for you to tell exactly how old your water heater is.  Angie’s List explains how to determine your water heater’s age and whether or not it is time for a replacement, “The serial number contains the date that the water heater was manufactured. But it won’t look the way a date is normally written. Instead, the serial number will have a date code such as “F051052638”. F is for the month and F is the sixth letter in the alphabet, so it represents the sixth month, June. Next, the first two digits of the serial number are 05, which represents the year, 2005. So this water heater was made in June 2005. Each manufacturer has a similar date code, and they can vary; check the manufacturer’s website to learn more. Generally, most water heaters that are more than 10 years old should be considered for replacement.”

Next, there is a sign homeowners often spot on their own that indicates their water heater may not be operating properly.  That sign is that their water is not hot or is inconsistent with its heating abilities.  This is a pretty obvious sign when you step in the shower and are hit with a blast of ice cold water.  If you find that your home is running out of hot water easily or quickly or is just inconsistent with heating it is probably a sign that you need to replace your water heater.

Finally, if you turn on the water and find that it looks rusty or discolored it may be a sign that your water heater needs to be replaced.  Additionally, every water heater has a faucet on it and if you attach a hose and drain the water into a bucket and it looks like it is dirty and rusty or contains sediment it may be close to breaking down.  By keeping an eye on these things you can anticipate when you need to contact a qualified and experienced professional plumber to assist you in replacing your water heater.