If you’re unsure about when to replace your hot water heater, Mac Plumbing has some red flags to watch for.
Cloudy water
- If your hot water heater hasn’t been replaced in several years, it will eventually start to corrode.
- Rusted metal in your water heater can make the water cloudy or rust colored.
- It could also be caused by sediment buildup in the heater tank, which could be fixed by cleaning out the tank. But if it persists, the water heater should be replaced.
Cooler showers
- The average temperature for water heater thermostats should be between 120 and 140 degrees.
- If you’re experiencing cooler temperatures in your water and adjusting the thermostat doesn’t help, then it’s time to replace the water heater.
- You might experience scalding hot water initially that turns to lukewarm water after only a few minutes.
Water heater is leaking
- If you notice leaking water around the water heater, it could be time to replace it.
- Leaks are usually caused by multiple expansions of the metal over the years.
- Some minor leaks can be fixed, but you only delay the inevitable replacement.
Don’t know how old your water heater is?
- If you purchased an older home and aren’t sure how old the water heater is, and the previous owners don’t have any documentation, look for the serial number on the tank.
- Look for the serial number.
- The first letter should be the month it was manufactured, starting with the letter ‘A’ for January and ending with the letter ‘L’ for December.
- The next two numbers will indicate the year it was made.
- Example: if the serial number starts with C19, the water heater was manufactured in March of 2019.
If you see any of these red flags, give Mac Plumbing a call. Mac Plumbing recommends the new tankless water heater, which can last up to 20 years. Read about tankless water heaters in one of our earlier blogs here.
Be prepared with a check-up from Mac and if you find yourself with plumbing problems, be sure to contact Mac Plumbing here or call us at (931) 552-5555.