As an unprofessional when it comes to your water heater, it’s hard to know when it may be time to get a new one for the winter. An expert could look at it or see the signs, but as a regular person it’s hard to judge this. This is why we’ve put together a list of 8 signs that tell you it may be time to invest in a new water heater to avoid any disasters when you find you need it most.
Age
If your water heater is more than 15 years old, it’s probably time to start considering a new one. At this point, it’s had a good run but the chances of it malfunctioning or breaking down increase significantly.
Increased Repair Bills
If you’re paying a ton to repair your water heater each year or it needs repairs relatively frequently, then it’s probably time to invest in a new one. While you could keep paying to repair it over and over again, once it gets to a certain point you’re better off just buying a new one.
Increased Energy Bills
If your energy bill is higher than normal, this could point towards your water heater malfunctioning or not optimizing energy the way it should. If you notice a higher energy bill, you may want to talk to experts and see if getting a new water heater would make a difference.
Signs of Wear
The best way to tell if you need a new water heater is if you see anything visibly wrong with it. Any corrosion or rust or broken bits could point towards a breakdown later on. If you see any visible signs, it’s probably time to buy a new water heater.
It’s Way Too Noisy
As you probably know from when your water heater was once new, it shouldn’t make a ton of noise. If it does, something could be wrong and you may need to get a new one. Anything that makes noises it shouldn’t probably needs to be looked at.
Burner Flame
When you look at your water heater, the burner flame should be orange. If it’s more yellow-y then it’s an indication that your water heater could be emitting poisonous chemicals.
Water Isn’t Consistent
If the temperature of your water doesn’t remain consistent than your water heater isn’t doing its job correctly.
Water Isn’t As Hot As It Once Was
If your water isn’t nearly as hot as it used to be, it’s probably a sign that the water heater is too old and can’t function the way it used to. While this isn’t dangerous, it’s certainly annoying and means it’s time to invest in a new one.
Knowing when to replace your water heater isn’t an easy task, but these 8 signs will help you identify a broken one when you need to.
