You probably know that the water heater in your house won’t last forever. But because the average water heater that receives regular maintenance can sometimes last for over two decades, it’s easy to slip into thinking that it’ll always be working for you and you won’t have to worry about it.
Then one day you notice rust on the water heater, or a rusty discoloration appears in the hot water. Alarm bells go off in your head. Rust can’t be a good sign. In fact, it might mean the water heater is finished and it’s time to have a new one installed.
But is this 100% true? Is a water heater with corrosion a water heater destined for the recycling yard?
How well do you know your home’s water heater? If you know that it heats up water and that’s about it, there are some more important facts to know, as well as tips for how to best take care of the water heater so it has a long, useful service life.
We recommend our customers have routine maintenance for their water heaters done every year. We include water heater service as part of our Ultimate Savings Agreement Plan, which provides you with excellent plumbing maintenance service each year.
You don’t want your home’s water heater to fail. There’s never a good time for this to happen. But you can help prevent a surprise water heater breakdown if you watch for warning signs the unit needs repairs. Not all water heater failures give off signs they’re headed for trouble, but most do.
Nobody wants to go through the trouble of replacing an old water heater. It’s a big project and costly, so homeowners will often settle for poor performance from an ancient water heater and high heating costs rather than take the step of calling a professional to install a new one.
Have you ever had an overflowing toilet with a water line that keeps rising closer and closer to the top? Or how about a leaking faucet that keeps you up all night right before a day where you need to be mentally sharp and focused?
Your water heater is one of the most important components in your home: providing safe hot water for cooking, cleaning and bathing. Most water heaters do their jobs quietly and without a fuss, which means that problems can creep up on you without noticing. This is compounded by the fact that most water heaters sit in out-of-the-way parts of your house, and don’t receive much attention so long as they do their job. Because of that, by the time you notice that something is wrong, the situation may be much worse than it appears
Water heaters are built to withstand quite a bit of strain. That’s a good thing, since they cope with a significant amount of demand 24/7. While water heaters are more resistant to developing issues than, say, an air conditioner, they can still have problems crop up every now and then. It’s a good idea for you to know the signs that your water heater is in trouble, so that you can call for repairs as soon as possible. Faster repairs means more damage prevented, which is good for you in the long run. Have a look at some of the most common signs that your water heater is having issues. 
