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Serving the South Puget Sound and Western Washington Areas Since 1976

Serving the South Puget Sound and Southwest Washington Areas Since 1976

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Sunset Air Blog

Is It Time for a New Water Heater?

tank-water-heaterThe average water heater sees a lot of use, multiple times a day, and on every day of the year. That level of demand takes a toll on any system, but water heaters are designed to handle it. If you take proper care of your water heater, you can get many years of service out of it before you have to replace it. You will have to replace it eventually, though. If you’ve had your water heater for a while, it may actually be getting close to the time for a new one. If your water heater is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk to a professional about replacing it.

Low Hot Water Output

If you’ve ever had multiple people using a lot of hot water at once, like running the dishwasher and the shower, you know that enough demand will exhaust the water heater’s supply. If left alone, though, that supply should recover in fairly short order. If your water heater is not able to supply enough output for even a moderate amount of demand, then it might be that the system is near the end of its life. As the water heater ages and wears down, its efficiency will gradually drop. Eventually, the wear and tear on the system will make it impossible for it to keep up.

Multiple Repairs per Year

It’s not a big deal to repair your water heater every few years or so. In fact, it’s to be expected. Things happen, and parts sometimes break down. What should be a concern, however, is if it starts to happen with high frequency. A water heater that needs to be repaired multiple times a year is probably on its last legs. That level of wear on the system cannot be remedied, so you might as well replace the entire unit instead of one part at a time. It will be more cost-effective in the long run.

Old Age

Even if you take absolutely perfect care of your water heater, including annual maintenance appointments and prompt repairs, you can’t hold off the effects of time forever. The average water heater will last from 10 to 15 years under normal circumstances. That is a pretty good return on investment, but past that point the system will likely start to develop problems like those listed above. If your water heater is older than 15 years, it’s a good idea to at least consult with a professional about whether or not you should replace it. You might be able to beat the odds and get a few more years out of it. Then again, you might be much better off installing a new system right now and foregoing all the problems the system might well develop over the next few months.

If you need a water heater installed or replaced, we can help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

Sunset Air provides a full range of water heater installation and replacement services in Olympia, WA

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