Buying a new hot water heater is a common experience most homeowners will go through at some point. Although hot water heaters are built to last for a number of years, if you own your home long enough, you’ll most likely have to replace it eventually. Given the expense of a new unit, you’ll want to ensure that new hot water heater installation in Grand Junction, CO is truly necessary. If you’ve been experiencing some hot water issues lately and are wondering if it might be time for you to replace your existing unit, here is some information you’ll definitely want to consider.
Factors to consider prior to replacement
The age of your existing water heater is an important factor in determining whether to replace or repair, although age can be deceiving. Water heaters can last anywhere from a little less than a decade to upwards of 15 or even 20 years. Especially if your equipment is over 15 years old, you may want to pay special attention to it, as it can easily start having problems. Occasionally units will start showing problems much earlier, often because they are less expensive models or have not been properly maintained. Simply knowing how old your hot water heater is can be useful.
Another consideration is the expense of fixing the unit. As your hot water heater ages, you might have to fix some of its parts once in a while. This doesn’t automatically mean you should replace it. In many cases a hot water heater can be fixed for far less than the cost of replacing the unit, and after fixing it, the unit should have several years ahead of it without needing further work. On the other hand, if every few months a new part breaks, you’re constantly throwing money into it, and the unit itself is already pretty old, then it might be time to spring for new hot water heater installation in Grand Junction, CO. At some point throwing money at a old and poorly functioning piece of equipment is a bad idea, and that’s when buying a new one becomes a smart investment.
Watch for signs of trouble
If the equipment already seems to have a problem, there are generally a few tell tale signs that the situation may be serious. An aging or broken hot water heater will often provide inconsistent amounts of hot water, meaning during a hot shower you will get occasional bursts of cold water. This could be the hot water mixer, but in other cases is the water heater itself. Another factor to consider is the duration of hot water. If your hot water seems to run out very quickly, then you could easily have a dying hot water heater. Finally, an obvious sign that your hot water heater either needs repairs or replacement is if the unit is making odd noises while running, or if water is leaking or pooling near the unit. Both of these problems should be addressed immediately, whether it results in simple repairs or new water heater installation in Grand Junction, CO.
Hopefully this guide has provided useful information about deciding when it’s time for new hot water heater installation. If you have any further questions, you should consider calling a professional today.