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The average water heater should last about 12 to 15 years. Unfortunately, many barely make it to the halfway point. This is partly because people often delay plumbing repairs until the last possible minute. Understanding the signs that plumbing needs servicing will extend the life of your unit considerably.

How to Tell Your Water Heater Needs Servicing

1. Age

Water heaters are usually labeled with their date of manufacture. If your unit is already well past the halfway point of its life expectancy, it may have to be replaced soon. If it’s already past its expectancy and appears to be working fine, it’s okay to wait until it starts failing, though you may want to get it assessed periodically to avoid surprises.

2. Water Leaks

If you believe your water heater is leaking, make sure it’s the unit that’s leaking and not a loose pipe fitting. One way to find out is to towel dry your water heater and all the connections, and then observe where new water leaks come from.

3. Foul Smell

water heaterIf you detect a sulphuric odor whenever you turn on the hot water, the most likely cause is a corroded anode in your water heater. Luckily, this is a small plumbing repair; only the anode will require replacement.

4. Cracking & Popping Sounds

Limescale and sediment buildup in your water heater will continually heat up and cool down, which often creates cracking and popping sounds. The solution is to get your tank flushed, and consider getting it preemptively flushed once a year.

5. Unusually High Energy Bills

Sediment buildup isn’t a health risk, but will eventually cause a water heater to overwork itself, thus escalating your energy bills. To prevent this from happening, flush your water heater of sediment at least once a year, especially if you have hard water.

 

If you’ve noticed one or more of these signs, your water heater likely needs servicing. To request an estimate from Reader Plumbing & Septic, give them a call at (920) 788-2527. Based in Freedom, WI, for over 40 years, they’ve built their business on a foundation of outstanding customer service, which they look forward to extending to you. More information is available online.

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