Warning Signs That You May Need A New Water Heater

The average water heater should last ten to fifteen years with proper maintenance. Eventually, it will need to be replaced. Wouldn't it be nice if you could tell your water heater was failing before you get up one morning to a freezing cold shower? Fortunately, there are often warning signs if you know what to look for.

Less Hot Water Than Normal

This warning sign is fairly obvious but is worth repeating. If your family normally takes five hot showers each morning, but can now only three or four, your water heater is definitely making and/or storing less hot water. You want to get this problem addressed sooner rather than later. Or one morning, you'll get zero hot showers!

Less Hot Water Volume

If you run a hot water faucet on full blast, then do the same for the cold water, the water volume or pressure should be about the same. There could be a slight pressure difference due to the added equipment on the hot water line, like an expansion tank for example. But that pressure drop would be very slight and probably not noticeable by the human eye. If you have noticeably less volume on the hot water it could be an indication of corrosion build up in the water heater. This corrosion will only get worse, and if not removed, cause your water heater to fail.