How do I know if I need my water heater repaired? This might be a question that you have been asking yourself recently. The first thing you have to analyze is why you are asking yourself such a question in the first place. Does it have something to do only with the age of the water heater itself or are there issues that are occurring which make you think that a problem exists? in reality, water heaters can give off a lot of signs that something is wrong. Sometimes those signs are rather subtle and sometimes there is nothing subtle about them. However, there is nothing wrong with wondering if you need to replace the system even if you don’t notice any signs that a potential problem exists, especially if you have had your current water heater in place for several years. They simply aren’t designed the last forever and at some point, you will have to replace it if you live in your home long enough. The question is, what should you be looking for that could indicate that you have a problem?
Age
If the age of the system is your only concern, you should know that in most cases, water heaters are designed to last around seven to ten years. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule. Some water heater systems will not make it anywhere close to that seven year mark while others will last far longer than a decade and still be going strong. A lot of it has to do with the quality of the system, whether or not it was installed correctly, and the presence or absence of hard water, something that can do a real number on the water heater system and virtually everything else in the home.
Water Leaking
Another sign that there is a problem with the water heater and it needs to be replaced is water leaking in the vicinity of the water heater. Most of these systems are tucked away where you can’t see them with the naked eye. Sometimes, this makes it harder to notice a problem as soon as it occurs. However, the problem usually becomes significant enough that the water begins to spill out into the hallway or you notice wet spots along the wall. If you happen to notice any of these things, it is definitely time to call a professional and find out what needs to be done to fix the situation. Otherwise, it can cause a lot of water damage to your home, not to mention the fact that the water heater probably needs to be replaced.
Water Takes Too Long To Get Hot
Another problem that you might notice is that when you run the hot water, it takes a lot longer than it used to for it to get hot. If it used to get hot in just a minute or two and now it’s taking three or four minutes to heat up, you know that something has changed. The only thing that could change involves the way that the water heater is performing. Perhaps it needs to be replaced or maybe it simply needs a little maintenance but it is imperative that you contact someone and find out exactly what is going on with your water heater before even more problems start to crop up. The same is true if you used to have more than enough hot water for showers and dishes to occur at the same time and now you can’t even get enough hot water for a single shower. Something is causing that problem and you have to find out what is going on before you know what must be done in order to correct it.
Problems With The Circuit Breaker
In some cases, you might be having problems with your circuit breaker. You may think of it as an electrical problem if your water heater is causing the circuit breaker to trip every time it comes on but the reality of the situation is that the problem could be with the water heater itself. Therefore, it is important to rule out that possibility before you automatically assume that the only thing you are dealing with is an electrical problem.
Conclusion
Your water heater is one of the systems that you rely on each day. It is just as important as electricity, and sometimes it is taken for granted in much the same way. However, when you notice that a problem may exist, you shouldn’t hesitate to have it looked at as opposed to just hoping the problem goes away. The sooner you get it fixed or you replace your water heater, the sooner you can get on with your daily life without worrying about additional problems that a broken water heater might be causing.
