Is Your Water Heater Failing? Know The Noticable Signs

When to consider replacing your old water heater!

When it comes to replacing your home’s water heater, the worst time to do it is when you’re forced to because your current water heater has failed. But if you know what to look for, you’ll have a head start on planning to upgrade to a new water heater. And the equipment experts at PitStop Fuels can help you choose the right one for your home, then install, maintain, and repair it!

Warning Signs Of A Worn Out Water Heater

Let’s get you up to speed on the things to watch for:

Age.

The average lifespan of a conventional water heater with a tank is about 10-12 years. And if your water heater has not been professionally maintained, that lifespan can be considerably shortened.

Higher energy bills.

If your energy bills are going up and you can’t explain why, your water heater may be the culprit. If it’s starting to fail, it won’t be as efficient, meaning it has to work harder and use more energy to consistently heat your water.

Strange noises.

If your water heater is making gurgling or growling noises, that is usually a sign that sediment has built up in your tank. That sediment can cause tank failure.

Some common noises include:

• Popping. Popping generally indicates that sediment has built up on the bottom of the tank. Steam bubbles develop under the sediment and explode when the water is heated, causing a popping noise. The “fix” for this problem is to flush the tank. 
• Rumbling. A rumbling sound can occur when the water in the tank expands as it is heated and begins to escape from under the sediment build-up. Rumbling usually means that the sediment build-up has reached a critical level and your unit is not functioning efficiently.
• Sizzling. A sizzling or frying noise is common in water heaters. It may simply indicate that condensation has formed drops of water that fall onto the burner or another hot surface.
• Screeching. A screeching or hissing noise may indicate that there is a water line valve that’s not completely opened. As water is pushed through the too-small hole, it creates this screeching noise. You can locate this problem with an inspection of the valves throughout your water line and open the offending valve to stop the noise.

Rusty water.

This is a sign your tank is beginning to fail because it is corroding from the inside out.

Leaks.

If you notice water on the floor under or around the tank, this is another sign of impending tank failure, and should be urgently addressed.

The benefits of a tankless water heater

A tankless water eliminates the main cause of early water heater failure: the tank! Tankless water heaters last about twice as long as conventional water heaters with a tank.

With a tankless water heater, you get all the hot water you need, whenever you need it. And a tankless water heater is powerful enough where you can take a nice, hot shower while the dishwasher is running with no worries.

Tankless water heaters don’t heat up the same water over and over when no one is using it so it’s ready when you need it. You can save up to 40% on your energy costs for water heating. And when you realize that heating water makes up about 20% of your home’s energy usage, that can be some pretty sweet savings!

If it’s time for you to replace your water heater, trust the experts at PitStop Fuels. Contact us today to learn more, or for any questions regarding your existing home unit!