Is It Time for a New Water Heater? | Insight from Your Trusted New Orleans, LA Water Heater Repair Service Provider
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No matter how much you keep up with maintenance when it comes to the plumbing in your home, there will always come a time when things need to be replaced. Keeping an eye on the plumbing fixtures in your New Orleans, LA, home is the best way to make sure you get things replaced on time, so your plumbing system is always functional. If you’re not sure whether you should pay for water heater repair or simply invest in a new water heater for your home, here’s what you should know before making a decision.
Age
The most important thing to consider when it comes to replacing your water heater versus repairing it is its age. As is the case with most things in your home, your water heater has a life expectancy that it isn’t likely to surpass. If your water heater is near the end of its expected life, it’s probably better to replace it instead of spending money on water heater repair.
According to water heater manufacturers and plumbing experts, water heaters tend to last anywhere from 8 to 12 years. If your water heater is having problem and you haven’t replaced it in at least 12 years, it’s probably best to avoid spending money on water heater repair. While you could probably get the water heater working again temporarily, you’re going to have to replace it at some point in the near future regardless of how often you have it repaired.
Of course, there are cases where a water heater may last longer than that, but 12 years is an accurate estimate. Sometimes a water heater may fail well before it should be on its last leg; you never know when a problem is going to pop up.
Tank Damage
One interesting part about water heaters is that they don’t actually contain a whole lot of parts. In most cases, a water heater problem can be traced back to a heating element or the sacrificial anode rod. Water heater tank problems are the worst-case scenario because you can’t replace the tank without buying a whole new water heater.
The fact of the matter is, you can’t patch up a water heater or buy a new tank to stop it from leaking. If your water heater is leaking from the tank, water heater repair is simply out of the question. Even if you could repair or replace your water heater tank, it would cost nearly as much as it would to buy a new water heater and have it installed.
Tank damage is generally caused by corrosion, which tends to happen to water heater tanks over time. This is one of the most common problems for older water heaters. In some cases, the corrosion process may be sped up as a result of the minerals in your water supply. In either case, you should skip the water heater repair process and simply have a plumber install a new water heater.
Repair Costs
At the end of the day, one of the most important things to consider if you’re thinking about replacing your water heater is the cost of water heater repairs versus the cost of a new water heater. If you’ve just got a bad heating element or you need a new sacrificial anode rod for your water heater, it’s probably worth spending the money to have it repaired. However, there are plenty of times where that won’t be the case.
While heating element problems are some of the most common water heater problems, not all heating element problems are the same. Your water heater has both an upper and a lower heating element, which means you could have two failing heating elements in your water heater. If you need both heating elements replaced, you might be better off investing in a new water heater.
If your water heater has corrosion that’s leading to a leak or the tank is starting to come apart, it’s probably best to buy a new water heater as well. There are some cases where you can make small repairs, but you’ll still have to replace your water heater in the near future.
Upgrading
Another thing you have to think about if you’re on the fence about getting a new water heater is what an upgrade could offer you. While a water heater upgrade might not be too appealing to somebody who bought an expensive water heater 6 years ago, you can get a lot of benefits from upgrading your water heater if it’s 15 years old.
Efficiency is one of the biggest benefits you get from a modern water heater. If you’ve got an old, inefficient water heater and you’re not sure whether to replace it or pay for water heater repair, it’s probably best to buy a new one. Modern water heaters are much more efficient, especially if you opt for a high-efficiency model.
If you’re thinking about switching from gas to electric or vice versa in your New Orleans, LA, home, there’s no point in paying for expensive water heater repairs. You can have a new water heater installed in your home for a little more than you’d spend to hire a plumber, plus you get a brand-new water heater and an excuse to switch to a new heat source.
Make the Call
If you have an old water heater or a water heater problem that would cost a fortune to fix, it’s time to replace your water heater. The good news is, you can find water heaters with tons of great energy-saving features at affordable prices.
Whether you’re simply looking for water heater repairservices or you want to have a new water heater installed, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans, LA, has you covered. To find out more about getting a new water heater for your home, give us a call at (504) 457-7135 today.
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