The Lifespan of a Water Heater

​Living in a house, you will eventually need to replace the water heater. The question is…when? Most of the time we replace it when there is a major issue which causes an urgency, and in some cases, an emergency. Here are some signs that your tank-type water heater is about to go out and needs to be replaced.
 
How old is it?
Typically, tank-type water heaters last about 6-10 years in Arizona, depending on how well you take care of it. If your water heater is on the older side and you don’t regularly flush it out or do maintenance on it, it should be replaced soon.
 
Is it leaking?
This is a tell-tale sign that you need to replace you water heater. If it is leaking from a connector, it might just need to be tightened or resoldered. If the water heater, itself, is leaking, then yes, you need to replace it as quickly as possible, or it could cause water damage to its surroundings.
 
When you turn the water on, is it cloudy, rusty, or smell weird?
Cloudy water could be a sign that your water heater has a buildup of mineral deposits, which can clog the flow or damage the system. Rusty water could be a sign of rusty pipes or that the water heater is breaking down on the inside and rusting out. This will lead to the water heater leaking. If your water starts to smell weird, that could be bacteria growth inside the heater, which might be a sign that your anode rod is failing.
 
Do you seem to run out of hot water more than normal?
This could be a result of a few different issues. There could be an electrical problem, an anode rod is broken, or there is too much sediment in the heater. We can come out and test the water heater and see if an electrical component is faulty or an anode rod is bad. These can be replaced and is cheaper than replacing the entire heater. If there is too much sediment in the heater, you could try and flush it out, though if you’ve never done that before and your heater is more than 2 years old, flushing it out may cause more damage than good at that point.
 
Is the water temperature varying in degrees?
This is a sign that your water heater is about to go out sooner than later. Hopefully, it’s just the anode rod that needs to be replaced but it is a good idea to call us to schedule Craig to come out to take a look. You should make plans on replacing the water heater before it goes out completely.
 
Do you hear strange noises coming from the water heater?
Strange noises are never a good thing, especially from your water heater. If you hear loud cracks bangs, gurgles, or whining, it could be caused by burning sediments or scale or the anode rod is failing. If you hear loud boiling noises, it could be an intense heating or pressure buildup.
 
Whatever the issue is, we can always come out and look at your water heater. Hopefully, its just an easy fix (ie: replace an electrical component or anode rod). If you need to replace the water heater, we can also see if the heater is still under warranty. That would save you money too.