The Summit, New Jersey, area is replete with gorgeous homes, many with beautiful bathrooms and kitchens that rival anything seen in design magazines. But lurking in the shadows somewhere behind closed doors in the basement is a gas or electric hot water heater that no one thinks about until the hot water heater decides to stop heating the water that feeds your faucets, bath and shower.
So before you’re rudely awakened one morning by cold water streaming from your master bath shower head, how can you tell if the hot water heater in your basement is in need of replacement or repair?
Even your hot water heater needs regular maintenance
Many homeowners neglect their hot water heater. Odds are it’s going to last around 10 years. Anything over that is great. Anything below is, well, a lost cause. To improve the odds against a leaky water heater turning into a flood in the basement, regular maintenance will extend the life of your water heater and alert you to hot water heater parts and problems that need to be addressed.
If you haven’t done any regular maintenance on your water heater, now is a good time to start.
Most people are unaware of when their water heater is about to fail, but if you are mindful of certain indicators, you will avoid the potential annoyance, damages and disruptions of a failing unit.
Aside from the age of your water heater, here are a few things to listen, feel and watch for:
- Rusty water or discolored water can be caused by a number of factors such as bacteria or a dissolved anode rod.
- Moisture or water around the base of the water heater may be a sign of small leaks or fractures in the tank.
- Rumbling noises may be due to sediment buildup such as calcium and lime mineral deposits.
- Cold water can be a sign of a bad thermocouple, an extinguished pilot light, a malfunctioning thermostat.
- A flooded basement is a sign that it’s too late!
How to decide whether to repair or replace your hot water heater.
Before you decide to discard your current hot water heater for a new hot water heater, here are some things to consider:
- The hot water heater is still under warranty and the repair is covered.
- Based on average life expectancy, the hot water heater still has enough service years left to justify the repair.
- Repair costs are reasonable. One rule of thumb identifies “reasonable” as “less than 50% of the cost of a new appliance.”
- Has the current hot water heater given good service and do you particularly like the model? Simply not wanting to change can be a valid reason for repair.
Stashluk Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Generators is your local factory-trained and authorized dealer, licensed and insured to sell, install and service all major brands of water heaters. If you haven’t followed a regular maintenance plan for your hot water heater, give us a call for a free estimate at 908.277-.6200.
We have the experience to know whether a hot water heater has life left in it, or if it’s a better idea to replace it with a new hot water tank or tankless system. We also offer 24/7 Emergency Service if the need arises.
