Trusted for Generations

Signs of Pending Water Heater Failure

Share:
More
Signs of Pending Water Heater Failure

As we move deeper into fall, many homeowners throughout the country are taking preventive steps to winterize their home—from insulating pipes against freezing temperatures to ensuring that their heaters are ready for the long winter ahead.

Our expert technicians are here for youSchedule Online Today

Of course, in Tampa we don’t have to worry about all this (although, heater maintenance is still important for the cooler temps we do experience on some winter nights)—but there is one system that no matter where you live, you must pay attention to. And that’s your Tampa, FL water heater. Used every day and yet taken for granted, water heaters are designed to last for quite a long time. But no system lasts forever, and it’s vital that you be aware of signs that yours may be ready for replacement.

How Old Is Your Water Heater?

Aside from catastrophic issues, age is typically the best indicator that a water heater is ready for replacement. Water heaters can last anywhere from one to two decades, depending on how well maintained it is, what type of water heater it is, and even how much use it gets.

But generally speaking, once your water heater gets past the age of 15, it will begin to trend downhill. Your water heater will start developing more and more issues—which we’ll get to below—will become costly to maintain, and will experience a growing list of problems until it finally just won’t be able to function anymore.

Check Your System’s Output

Whether you’re utilizing a tank water heater or a tankless model, eventually you will subject it to enough demand to overwhelm it—particularly if it is aging anyway. If your water heater is constantly having trouble providing enough hot water for even moderate use, you should have one of our professionals take a close look.

If low output is a consistent problem for you, there could be a number of different causes, but one of the leading causes is simple wear and tear. As your water heater grows older, it loses its operating efficiency, until it just cannot keep up anymore. There isn’t anything to be done once it reaches this point, other than upgrade to a new water heater.

How Often Does Your Water Heater Breakdown?

Water heaters are usually more resistant to developing problems than systems such as your air conditioner. However, they’re certainly not immune to problems. You’ll probably need to repair your water heater more than once over the course of its lifespan.

If you need to have your water heater system repaired multiple times throughout a single year, you should know that level of frequency is abnormal. Water heaters that need to be repaired that often are probably pretty close to the end of their lifespan, as parts begin to fail under years of wear and tear.

If you’re experiencing water heater breakdowns this often, you have two options. You can keep having repairs done on the system, or you can replace your system with a new one. Keep in mind that consistent repairs may end up being more costly than simply getting a new water heater. A general rule of thumb to go by is if your repairs are costing you half of what a new system would, it’s a good idea to get a new system.

For superior water heater services from a strong and stable company, contact IERNA’s Heating & Cooling today!

Categories: