A sturdy storage tank water heater that receives regular maintenance and prompt repairs whenever necessary should last a household for many years. However, eventually the stress will start to overwhelm the system and it will need to be replaced: there’s no such thing as a “forever” water heater.

In this post, we’ll help you with making the choice about whether it’s time to replace your water heater. Please don’t make the final choice on your own, however! Call up our experienced professionals for a final assessment. If they decide that a new water heater is the best option, they’ll see that you receive the finest new unit.

Signs of a tank water heater at the end of its service

• Basic age: A water heater usually lasts between 15 and 20 years if it receives routine annual maintenance. Once the unit is more than 20 years old, it’s a good time to begin considering replacing it. Even if the system still works well, the chances of it encountering a sudden breakdown or a decline in efficiency heightens. It’s often better to get in front of the problem and start saving energy with a new system.
• Internal corrosion: A few spots of rust on the outside of the tank don’t usually mean the system is in imminent danger of needing replacement. But when the water coming from the hot water taps starts to show indications of rust inside the tank (reddish-brown tint), then it almost definitely means the unit should be retired.
• Drop in hot water volume: Have you noticed that more and more people in your household are going with lukewarm showers in the morning? This means that the water heater is struggling to keep up with the demand that it once used to meet easily. A drop in hot water volume is one of the major indications that the system needs a replacement.
• Climbing bills: Check on your energy bills for the last few years. If they’re steadily climbing and you don’t have a specific reason why, it might be the fault of a water heater that no longer works at peak condition.

Bud Matthews Services installs, replaces, and repairs storage tank water heaters in Durham, NC and the surrounding areas.