A good hot water heater is an indispensable part of maintaining comfort in your home. Showers, baths, dishes, and laundry all depend on it. Here are some crucial signs that it’s finally time to replace or upgrade your heater.

1. Your Hot Water Heater… Forgets to Heat the Water

Hot water should be available within no more than a minute of turning on the tap. This is true even in the coldest of Ontario winters. If your hot water heater isn’t performing promptly, it either isn’t getting hot enough or isn’t sustaining the right temperatures long enough. The heating element may be worn out.

2. Your Water Heater Is Consuming More Electricity

Your hot water heater is a surprisingly large contributor to your energy bill. Many older hot water heaters run almost continuously. Newer tankless models are designed to provide on-demand hot water with minimal use of electricity. As a rule, water heaters lose efficiency with age and rarely last beyond 8-10 years.

3. You Spot Rust on the Water Heater or in the Water

Any sign of rust is a red flag! Keep an eye out for rust whenever you get hot water from faucets in your bathroom or bathtub. Unfortunately, rust can occur even early in a hot water heater’s service life. Periodically check the water inlet or pressure relief valve on your unit, as these are both places that indicate rust has probably taken hold within the tank itself.

4. The Water Heater Is Getting Louder in Operation

While it’s not unusual to tune out odd noises from aging appliances, be wary. Any noise from your hot water heater is a sign that one of its mechanical systems is not working the way it should. A characteristic rumbling sound is very common in an old hot water heater. This is usually due to a thick layer of sediment buildup along the tank floor, which makes it both less efficient and more prone to serious damage, leading to a complete breakdown.

5. The Water Heater Is Leaking

Hot water heater leaks become more likely as the unit ages. Unfortunately, this usually marks the end of the heater’s life. Leaks are principally caused by the expansion of metal within the tank after thousands of heating cycles. More rarely, loose fittings or problems with the pressure overflow pipe are to blame.

To learn about your hot water heater options, contact Syles today.