Replace Your Water Heater if it Fits These Criteria

If you are careful to schedule regular preventive maintenance and prompt repairs, you can get many good years out of your water heater. No system can last forever, though. It’s important that you know the signs that it’s time to replace your old water heater. You don’t want to be blindsided by having it suddenly break down on you. With that in mind, here are some ways that you can tell that it’s time to replace your current water heater.

If you put enough demand on your water heater for long enough, you will eventually overwhelm it. As a water heater gets older, though, the wear and tear on it will start to effect the efficiency of the system. A water heater near the end of its life may be unable to generate enough hot water for even a moderate demand. If your water heater can’t seem to generate enough hot water for even a quick shower, it might be time to replace it.

Water heaters break down every once in a while, just like a lot of systems. You really shouldn’t need to repair your water heater more than a handful of times over the years, though. Older water heaters have so much wear and tear on them, though, that various parts will often fail in groups. If you need to have your water heater repaired multiple times a year, you should definitely consult with a professional about replacing it. It will likely be far more cost effective for you to install an entirely new system than to replace your current one a single part at a time.

The average water heater lasts around 10-15 years, under ideal circumstances. This will, of course, vary depending on individual circumstances. Once a water heater gets past that age, it will start to develop problems like those listed above. You can keep the system operating past that point, if you want to spend the time and money doing so. Honestly, though, the vast majority of the time it is far more cost-effective to install an entirely new system. The accumulated wear and tear on the system will cause a steady and permanent loss of efficiency, something that can only be remedied by installing an entirely new water heater. If your water heater is older than 15 years, talk to a professional about whether or not it would be a good idea for you to install a new one.

Lutz Plumbing, Inc. provides a full range of water heater replacement services in Kansas City, MO. If you need help installing a new water heater in your home, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.