Hello World! Welcome Friends! A hot water tank, also known as a water heater, is an indispensable part of our day-to-day lives. Whether you’re showering, washing dishes, or doing chores around the house, hot, on-demand water has become a necessity.
So, when should you consider replacing your hot water tank with a brand new water heater, or even a tankless heater? In this article, we’ll discuss the top signs that it’s time for your hot water tank to be replaced.
1. It Can’t Keep Up With Your Hot Water Needs
Not all water heaters are built alike. If you have a growing family, and you’ve started using more hot water every day for showers, cleaning laundry, doing the dishes, and so on, you may notice that you simply don’t have enough hot water to go around – resulting in dirty dishes, cold showers, and other inconveniences.
If you have just 1 or 2 people in your household, a 23-36 gallon tank is enough. But for 2-4, you’ll need a tank with at least 40-50 gallons of capacity, and for households of 5+ people, a 56+ gallon tank may be a good investment.
2. Your Water Isn’t Hot Enough
As they get older, hot water heaters tend to become less effective at heating your water, for a variety of reasons. If your water is only mildly warm or lukewarm, even when you turn the “hot” tap all the way up, chances are that your water heater needs to be replaced.
3. You Can’t Remember The Last Time It Was Replaced
Hot water tanks don’t last forever. They need to be replaced fairly regularly – usually about every 8-10 years – for the best performance. If you can’t remember the last time you bought a new water heater, it’s probably time to replace it.
Want to know how old your water heater is? You can usually find out by looking at the serial number on your water heater.
The serial number will likely look something like: F091052638
F is the sixth letter of the alphabet, so it refers to the 6th month – June. The first 2 numbers are 09 – indicating a manufacture date of 2009. That means this particular tank was made in June, 2009, and likely needs to be replaced soon.
If your serial number looks different, don’t worry. Consult your manufacturer’s website, and they will have instructions on how to read the serial number.
4. You’re Hearing Strange Noises When You Turn On The Hot Water Tap
As water heaters age, sediment from water will build up on the bottom of the tank, and harden as it’s heated and reheated, over and over again.
This means that your hot water heater will be less efficient, and may suffer from more wear & tear. If you are hearing loud rumbling or banging sounds coming from the tank as it heats up, chances are that your water heater is nearing the end of its useful life.
You Notice Leaks Or Water Around The Heater
Leaks around the water tank could mean that you are having problems with the overflow pipe, or the water fittings and other connections to the tank. However, if you check these connections and they are all dry, the leak is probably in the tank itself.
As the tank heats, it tends to expand, which can open up tiny leaks or fractures in the tank. Then, when the metal of the tank cools down somewhat it contracts – sealing the leak.
Any leak or damage to the tank is a big deal, so you should have it inspected by a professional right away, to ensure it’s safe and won’t fail catastrophically.
Contact A Professional Right Away If You Recognize These Signs!
If the above signs of a failing hot water tank seem familiar, hire a professional for a full assessment. Your plumber will be able to provide you with the best next steps, and recommend a new hot water heater that will be more appropriate for your particular needs.
Click the links below for any posts you may have missed!
Simple Fall Mantel featuring Blue & White
Modern Galaxy Bedroom Makeover
I’d love for you to join my email list! You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox once a week on Monday which will include links to party posts and my home project posts! Simply enter your address below.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
[…] water tanks are prone to leakages for different reasons and you should always check your hot water cylinder to ensure there are no leaks. During winter there is a spike of hot water leaks as this is when […]