A New Year Means It's Time for a New Water Heater

A New Year Means It's Time for a New Water Heater

There’s never a great time to have to replace a water heater. Homeowners find that there are always things that are a little higher on the list - until they walk into the garage to find an inch of water on the ground. Homeowners that experience one or more of the following issues should definitely take advantage and get a brand new water heater.

How Old the Water Heater Is.

Nothing lasts forever, though we wish it did. Water heaters are no exception. Old-style water heaters usually last 10 years before they turn into money pits. Homeowners can check the serial number online if they don’t have the paperwork at hand and want to find out the age of their water heater. Even if the heater hasn’t been experiencing problems, age is one of the best determinants for deciding when to replace a water heater.

Discolored Water

The color of a home’s hot water is a great indication of the health of the water heater. There are a couple of reasons why hot water could become rust-colored. The first is a worn anode rod. An anode rod attracts small particles that can cause rust in the tank. But sometimes, the anode rod no longer works, which can cause the tank to rust. A rusting tank will cause only the hot water to appear brownish. If the cold water is clear and the hot isn’t, it’s most likely an issue with the tank.

Sediment buildup is another cause of discolored water. All water has minerals in it. When the water goes into the water heater, that sediment can build up at the bottom of the tank, causing yellow-colored water. Homeowners who experience discolored hot water should consider replacing their hot water heater.

Tank Leaking

No one likes to see water on the floor around the water heater. If the tank is in the garage, it’s not such a big deal. If it’s somewhere in the house…a leak can cause thousands of dollars worth of property damage. A leaking tank has a couple of different causes, and none of them are good.

Most commonly, tank leaks are caused by the repeated expansion that is unavoidable when the water is heating. At first, the crack will be small enough that it only leaks a little bit. As it continues to expand, the amount of water leaking will grow until it becomes a serious issue. Less common causes of water heater leaks happen when fixtures or fittings become loose. Luckily, these are fairly easy to fix.

Some other things homeowners should look out for regarding water heaters include falling hot water volume/pressure, repeated repairs, water that has a metallic smell and/or taste, and a sudden rise in heating bills.

Tualatin Valley Plumbing LLC proudly serves the Portland Metro area and more!

Including Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Troutdale, Tualatin, Tigard, Wilsonville, West Linn, Gladstone, Happy Valley, and Sherwood. As well as Boring, Canby, Damascus, Estacada, Newberg, and Sandy!

Full-scale residential plumbing, drain cleaning, water heaters, water service, gas line, re-pipe, and more!

Tualatin Valley Plumbing LLC proudly serves the Portland Metro area and more! Including Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Troutdale, Tualatin, Tigard, Wilsonville, West Linn, Gladstone, Happy Valley, and Sherwood. As well as Boring, Canby, Damascus, Estacada, Newberg, and Sandy!