This month marks the start of the holiday season which likely means more people in and out of your Buffalo home. Whether it’s kids home from school more or hosting parties or gathering, the holidays tend to mean more water usage throughout your home. After you fold that final load of laundry for the day and go to take a warm shower, if you find yourself without hot water, you will likely be less than pleased. Do you need a new water heater to keep up with the holiday demand?
Signs you may Need a New Water Heater to Keep up With the Holiday Demand
Your home’s water heater is the most important thing when it comes to having water that is the temperature you desire. We use our home’s water heater daily for things like showering, doing laundry, and washing the dishes. Due to them being used so often; it is common for water heaters to wear out or breakdown. The average lifespan of a water heater is around 10 years.
As we mentioned above, in many Buffalo households, our water heaters are really put to the task over the holiday season. Not only are more people around, it is colder outside so we tend to use more hot water to get warm. One of the last things you want to worry about this holiday season is not having hot water, so are there signs that you may need a new water heater to keep up with the holiday demand?
Below review some indications that your water heater may need to be replaced before we are too far into the holiday season:
You have started to notice that your water is no longer clear and is looking rusty. When you turn on your hot water, if the clear water you are used to appears to be a rusty color, it is a sign that you may need a new hot water heater. If there is rust in your water, you should call a local plumbing expert right away to help you understand why, usually this is due to corrosion and sediment buildup that naturally occurs over time.
There is no hot water, or it seems to last for much shorter periods of time than it used to. Perhaps the most telling sign that your water heater can’t keep up with the holiday demand, is if you have no, or limited, hot water. Insufficient hot water is a sign that you need to invest in a new water heater. Not only do water heaters get worse at heating water as they age, but they also lose capacity, due to that sediment buildup we mentioned above.
Your water heater has started to make new noises. New noises from any of your home appliances are usually never a good thing. The same is true when it comes to your water heater. If your water heater is making cracking and popping sounds, it may be an indication that the interaction between the heating elements and the inside heater has mineral build up on them. This is a sign that you need to get a new water heater to keep up with the holiday demand, as yours is nearing the end of its operational lifespan.
You have noticed water or leaks around the unit. Another sign that you may need a new water heater, is if you notice leaks and puddling around it or the area near it. Slight fractures develop over time as the metal tank expands and contracts with heat, over and over again. Slow drips and leaks quickly escalate, causing serious flooding if the entire tank breaks. If you notice water around your unit, call a Buffalo water heater professional right away.
Expert Plumbers in Buffalo, NY
While an annual water heater flush and regular maintenance can help to extend the life of your hot water heater, sometimes time and use impact your water heater at the most inconvenient moments, like the holidays. At Reimer Home Services we are Buffalo water heater experts. We can help you determine if you need a new water heater to keep up with the holiday demand, or if there is something else we can do to fix whatever problem you may be facing. Contact us today.