Sometimes when you are the last one to take a shower you notice the water does not get very warm or even runs out. Maybe it happens when you have overnight guests or a family member who takes long showers.  

What if the issue is not extra showers due to guests but that your hot water heater stops working efficiently?  That’s when you may need to replace it. Or check if you can do some maintenance that will extend the life of your water heater.

When working properly, your hot water heater continuously heats water in the tank so when you need it for showers, laundry, dishes, or just to wash your hands, you have the hot water you need.

Whether you’re a new homeowner or have been in your home for a while, be aware of potential issues you could face with your water heater. Some issues could be fixed, but others could mean it’s time for a replacement.

Signs It’s Time to Replace

Getting Old. Most electric water heaters on average last 10 years. Gas heaters usually have a shorter lifespan of up to 8 years.  You can check the age of your hot water heater by looking at the serial number on the manufacturers’ sticker, the first two numbers are the date it was manufactured.  If it is end of life you may want to consider replacing it or at least doing a little maintenance (See Below) to extend its life, unless there are already signs it is beyond maintaining.  

Getting Rusty. If the water coming out of your tap when you run the hot water is rusty, this could be a sign that the inside of the tank is rusting. Or if there is rust on the water heater near the valve.  These signs indicate that the tank may be compromised and there is potential for a leak. If the tank breaks and you don’t catch it right away you could wind up with serious water damage. There is nothing worse than trying to grab a morning shower and discovering there is no hot water, and your basement is ankle deep in water.

Making Noise. If you hear rumbling and loud noises coming from your tank every time you need it to heat up water, this could be a sign of sediment build up. You should flush sediment from your hot water heater annually. If your hot water heater is still making noise even after you flush it out it may be time to replace it.  

Leaking Water.  If you tank is leaking water, you need to get it looked at right away.  If the issue is with the fittings, this can be fixed, however, if the issue is a crack in the tank, you will have to replace it.

Not enough heat.  You will need to do some investigating if you find your water is not warm enough or the water heater seems to be running for long periods of time. First have it checked out to see if something is wrong with the thermostat or the heating element, and if they can be fixed. However, if you consistently don’t have enough hot water, then your tank could be too small for your family’s current needs. If it’s getting older and you find it is too small for your needs, it might be worth replacing it sooner than later.

Maintaining your Water Heater

Maintaining your water heater should take 1-2 hours depending on how handy you are. Do a little research to see if you want to tackle these tasks or if you should bring in a plumber.

FIRST TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE HEATER AND CLOSE THE COLD WATER SUPPLY VALVE.

• Check the TPR (temperature-pressure-release) Open the valve and close it, if water continues to leak out, the valve should be replaced.
• Check the Anode Rod – the Anode rod deteriorates naturally – that’s it’s job.  You can access it from the top of the tank. You should drain some water out of the tank before removing the rod. If it is less than a half inch thick or coated with calcium it should be replaced.
• Next drain the tank to remove sediment. Attach a hose to the fitting near the bottom of the tank. Once you have drained it keep adding water to stir up the sediment and drain it until the water is a clean as you can get it.
• Check the temperature and set it to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, for every 10 degrees you lower the temperature you can save up to 5% on your heater’s energy cost.

Replacing Your Water Heater

If you decide it’s time for a new water heater, determine what size tank you need. Is the current tank meeting your needs? Have you added a bathroom? Do you use the bathtub frequently? How much room do you have for the hot water heater? By taking all of this into account you will get the right sized tank for your needs.  You may also want to consider a tankless hot water heater.

Know your water needs: 

Determine if you need to have a larger tank with a higher gallon capacity that can handle your family, especially if it’s growing. 40-50 gallon heaters are the most common.

If you have multiple people showering at the same time or one after the other, you may need a higher recovery rate, which is the number of gallons it will heat up in an hour.

Know your home:

Pay attention to the space you have available for the hot water heater. They required a certain amount of clearance at the top and around it as well. If you do not have the clearance, you may not be able to get a larger tank.

Try and save energy with your new heater, so look for energy efficiency ratings. It can tell you the cost of operating for the year. Remember, that water heaters use lots of energy.

Tankless vs. Traditional:

A traditional water heater stores and preheats 30-50 gallons of water in an actual tank. This preheated water will be ready in the tank for your needs, whether it’s a shower or washing clothes. It refills and reheats during the day. It can be electric or gas.

• Its initial cost is low but over the long run you’ll have a higher utility bill since it continuously re-heats the water when the temperature drops below a set point. So, it is running on and off around the clock.
• The tank needs to fit your home’s dimensions for its allotted space. Even if you get the same size tank it may take up more space as federal guidelines require more insulation.
• It can run out of hot water, and you’ll need to wait for the tank to refill and reheat.
• It needs to be replaced more often since it has a shorter lifespan (around 10 years) than a tankless.

A tankless water heater doesn’t store water in a tank (obviously) but rather uses a heat source to warm up cool water on-demand. It provides 2 to 3 gallons of hot water per minute. It also can be electric or gas.

• It has a higher initial cost to install since it’s more complicated and could involve retrofitting if you are replacing a traditional heater. If you are replacing electric with electric, you may have to upgrade your electric service to accommodate the heater.
• You do save energy over the long run and will see lower utility bills. You need to compare the cost to install and run vs the energy savings overtime.
• It has a longer lifespan of 20+ years, almost double.
• Tankless heaters perform better where ground water temperatures are higher, that is in warmer climates. So, if you live in an area with colder temperatures, like Westchester, you may want to do further research before switching over.

As will any piece of equipment, hot water heaters will eventually need to be replaced. If you stay on top of maintenance, you can extend the life of your hot water heater.