Typically, hot water heaters will last about 10 years. After a while, they start to lose their efficiency and become more prone to failure. Most people unfortunately wait until their water heater has catastrophically failed before shopping around for a replacement water heater.

Signs you may want to consider a new water heater include:

1. The System Age: How long has the water heater been in your home?
2. Loss of Hot Water: Are lukewarm showers the norm now?
3. Rising Heating Bills: Hot water accounts for as much as 25% of your home’s energy use. As the unit gets older and less efficient, it gets much more expensive to operate.
4. Strange noises: If you hear a rumbling or strange noise from the tank, inspect for small leaks.
5. Rust-colored Water: This could indicate corrosion inside the water heater.
6. Too Many Repairs: If you are calling for repairs on the water heater more than twice a year, that’s too often. Rather than to continue to throw money at a water heater that is on its way to failure, arrange for a new installation.
 

Tankless Water Heaters
One solution for saving energy (and money) on hot water is to install a tankless water heater. Because tankless water heaters don’t store heated water, they use less energy and save you money on your utility bills. Plus, they save space, eliminate the risk of water damage due to a leaking water storage tank, and last up to twice as long as a conventional water heater.

For a limited time, Plumb Pro is running a Navien Tankless Hot Water Heater promotion for a 1-3 bedroom home for only $3,995, and qualified buyers can finance for 18 months at 0% interest. We will buy back your old water heater for $500. Call our Charleston office for details.