As a home or business owner, it’s important to know when the investments you make are due for a refresh, replacement, or simple maintenance to keep them working as they should. For most, this notion usually applies only after something has seemingly gone very wrong, and an emergency service is needed. With a bit of planning however, there are a number of ways to tell if you should be considering a replacement for your appliance, or something similar. When it comes to your water heater, there are a few things to consider, a few things to look out for, and a number of factors involved in the process. See below and determine if you’re up for a water heater replacement in the near future.
Performance Benchmarks
It’s easy to continue looking at how your hot water has been operating at ‘normal’, and not think anything of it. In reality, changes occurring within your home can sometimes be so subtle, and so spread out over the course of a long period of time, that it might not register as something you’re conscious of and looking out for. Some things worth checking are:
- How consistent your water is staying hot during use
- The duration at which you have hot water
- Small, yet subtle noises coming from your hot water heater
- Any leaking, moisture or loose fittings around the hot water heater.
It’s important to not only check out your appliances for change, but note them as they happen. This way. Should someone need to come out and inspect the unit, they have an idea of what to look for, which can save both money and time when the time comes to prepare a fix.
Age
As your home becomes older, so do the appliances and fixtures working within. However as you make upgrades to your plumbing, kitchen and other supplies of water that rely on the hot water heater, it can cause the unit to work more than it might be able to. As time goes on, this can pose a threat to your hot water heater, decreasing both the effectiveness it provides, and the longevity of the appliance as it stands currently in your home.
In this case, it’s important to know a roundabout age for the major components in your home, as well as keeping a log for how often they’ve been worked on, services, and when things have been replaced. This way, you’re able to not only keep track of the work that was completed, but it provides less of a surprise to you when something goes wrong, and your tech can inspect specific areas of the appliance for any premature or regularly scheduled performance loss.
Recommendations
At the recommendation of a professional, you might find yourself behind the decision to either repair components, or replace the unit totally. This decision, while usually a tough one for those who aren’t experiencing huge performance loss or failure, is ultimately the best one to make — especially when it comes from someone who is well-versed in the industry and can ultimately make the right call for both you and your home. In these cases, a replacement is likely the best choice, if it’s suggested by someone who is inspecting your current setup.
Payless Water Heaters has been servicing Southern California home and business owners for over 30 years, and have installed upwards of 100,000 individual units. We take pride in every facet of our work, and we’re willing to stand by our quality team, work, and products. To learn more about how we can help you with your next water heater service or installation, give us a call at 866.615.4008 or contact us here!