One of the joys of home-ownership is getting to replace stuff when it goes bad. And, this past week, we were blessed when we found out we needed to replace our older water heater (can you tell I’m trying to have a good attitude about this?). Fortunately, we do have an emergency fund in place so these unexpected expenses don’t cause too much havoc on our finances.
Signs your water heater is on the fritz
So, when should you replace? Here are some signs (in particular, a gas water heater):
- Age of the water heater. Depending on the type of heater you have, these can go out anywhere from 6-12 years (sometimes less, depending on how hard the water is where you live). But generally, my plumber indicated that at the 10-year point, you may want to inspect your water heater or replace er.
- Leaks. One of the worst things that can happen and one of the most obvious indicators for a replacement would be the tank springs a leak. Hopefully you have a drain nearby and it doesn’t flood the whole basement (or wherever it may reside).
- Is not properly heating your water. Age and improper heating was one of the first signs we knew it was time to replace ours. For several weeks now we haven’t been getting consistent heating during showers. Now, this also could be a sign that the bottom of the tank is full of gunk (or, residue from water). This stuff sits at the bottom of the tank and continues to build up until it impedes proper heating of your water. While you can try and drain your tank to get rid of the sediment, it will not always fix your problem – and could make things worse. According to our trusted plumber, if it is having this problem and your water heater is getting up there in age, replacing the tank could be a wise preventative measure. Note: no hot water could be related to the pilot light going out on your heater. Make sure you check that before replacing.
- Sounds. If you are hearing loud pops and cracks coming from the tank, this could be related to the heating elements going bad.
- Metallic water taste. Tasting your water – and you detect a metallic flavor, this could be a sign it is close to breaking-down.
What type of heater to get?
There are a few different types of tanks you can chose from:
- Tankless
- Tank (Electric/gas)
We chose to replace our old one with another gas tank. These guys are typically less expensive than tankless water heaters, but, unless it has an Energy Star sticker on it, you won’t qualify for government rebates that are still in effect (as of this writing – ending on December 31, 2013).
Tankless heaters are supposed to be the next big thing in water heating – but have yet to prove themselves to be economical here in the States. They tend to be more expensive to purchase and more troublesome to install. The government does offer a substantial rebate on them if purchased – but it still isn’t enough to justify their cost. And, because the water coming out of the ground is quite cold in the northern states – tankless heaters (on-demand water heat) do not seem to heat up the water “hot” enough.
What’s been your experience with water heaters? How did you save money when buying a new one?
