The downside of owning your own home is that at some point you’ll be faced with an unexpected bill. This can place a serious strain on your finances and may even mean having to go without an appliance for a short while.
However, in many cases you can plan for these appliance failures by being aware of the warning signs. It is also a good idea to use a service such as nswhotwater.com.au for regular maintenance. Not only will this help to extend the life of your appliances it will also help you to be forewarned about issues.
Here is how you can tell that your water heater will need replacing soon.
Age
While age should never be held against a person in the world of water heaters it is a warning sign. The older a water heater gets the more likely it is to fail; especially if the maintenance has not been carried out regularly.
In addition you will find it more difficult, if not impossible, to locate the replacement parts; potentially finishing your appliance when it still has life left in it.
In general a water heater should last 10 years; after this time you should be prepared for it to fail.
If it is younger than 10 years but has rust in the water or on the sides of the tank then you should consider getting it replaced.
You can check the age of your water heater by looking at the sticker on the side of the tank. The first letter or number represents the month and the following two show the year.
Noise
If your heater has started to make some unusual or unexpected noises then there is a good chance that something is not right with it.
At best you need to contact your technician to have it serviced and checked over. But you’ll also need to prepare yourself that it may be about to fail.
Leaks
Another sign that there are issues with your water heater of the pipes supplying it is when you start to develop leaks. These can often be a result of seals corroding and rust taking effect. Unfortunately in many of these cases there is little you can do but replace the water heater.
You can’t repair the rust spots and it will simply spread further.
What you’ll need to decide is whether the water heater is rusting or the valve for entry or exit water; a simpler cure.
Failure To Heat
A very obvious sign that your water heater has had enough is when it can no longer heat the water properly for you.
There is a good chance that the water will be warm on some days and hot on others. Eventually this will become water which is just cold. You may be able to replace the heating element or you may be looking at replacing the entire tank.
It is important to flush your heater regularly; if you spot a higher than usual buildup of sediment then you may need to look at a new heater; be prepared!
