You rely on your home’s water heater to provide you with the necessary hot water for everything from showering to washing dishes. If you’ve noticed that your water isn’t getting warm enough, your water heater is likely to blame. You may need to decide whether it’s better to spend money on a repair or purchase a replacement. Here are some factors to keep in mind so that you can make the right decision.
Consider Its Age
The average home water heater is designed to last between eight and 12 years. As might imagine, it’s not worth putting money into repairing a system when it’s not expected to last much longer. If your current water heater is over eight years old, it’s typically best to just replace it with an updated version. However, if your water heater is fairly new, a repair is worth it.
Look for Water Leakage
A common issue that most Waukesha, WI, homeowners end up dealing with at one point or another is a leaky water heater. If your water heater is leaking around its base, it’s likely that it’s starting to deteriorate and rot out. In this type of situation, it’s not worth investing money to try to repair the water heater. You’d be better off replacing the entire thing so that you have peace of mind, knowing it’s unlikely to break down anytime soon.
Check for Heating Element Failure
If your water heater completely stops producing hot water, it can be a big problem. In many cases, it’s simply the heating element inside your tank that’s causing the issue. If so, it’s typically best to simply replace the heating element. Most heating elements cost under $20 and can be easily installed in a few minutes. No matter the age of your water heater, this small investment is typically worth it to get more use out of the system.
Assess the Heater’s Size
Residential water heaters are available in a range of different capacities from a low of 40 gallons to a high of 120 gallons. Depending on your home’s square footage, you’ll need a water heater size that can produce the amount of hot water you’ll need on a consistent basis. If you’ve recently added onto your home, and you always seem to be getting lukewarm water from your faucets, it’s likely that your water heater is now too small for your square footage. In this scenario, your best bet is to invest money in a bigger water heater that will be able to meet your new usage demands.
Now you have a better idea of when you need to replace your water heater and when repairing it will do. If you’re currently experiencing a problem with your water heater, it’s time to pick up the phone and call our plumbing experts at Jeff’s Custom Care!