5 Signs It's Time to Replace Your Water Heater
Nobody thinks about the water heater until the shower runs cold. By then you're out of hot water, and sometimes you're mopping the garage floor too.
Start With the Age of the Tank
Most tank water heaters last 8 to 12 years. Where yours lands depends on the model, your water, and whether anyone ever flushed it. Look for the manufacture date on the label on the side of the tank. If your Folsom home was built in the early 2000s and still has its original water heater, it's on borrowed time. Age is the first sign, and it makes the other four matter more. Once a unit is past ten years and starting to act up, putting more money into repairs rarely pays off.
What the Water Is Telling You
Signs two and three show up at the tap. If your household suddenly can't get through showers, laundry, and dishes without the water going lukewarm, the unit isn't heating the way it used to. Sediment settled in the bottom of the tank is a common cause. Rusty hot water is the other thing to watch for. Sometimes that comes from a worn part we can swap out. It can also mean the tank is corroding from the inside, and there's no repair for that.
Leaks and Repeat Repairs
Sign four is water around the base of the heater. Don't ignore it. A dripping fitting or valve can often be repaired. A water heater leaking from the bottom of the tank itself has to be replaced, and soon, because a slow leak doesn't stay slow. Sign five is the repair bill. If you've called for service more than once in the past year, add up what you've spent. An older unit that keeps breaking down will usually cost you more than a new one.
Repair or Replace? We'll Tell You Straight
Harris Plumbing has been family-owned and operated since 1998, and owner Steve Harris has 42 years in the trade. We install gas, electric, and tankless water heaters, and our bids are free. If you're seeing signs your water heater is failing, give us a call. We handle water heater replacement in Folsom, El Dorado Hills, and the surrounding area. If a repair is all you need, we'll say so.
