You rely on your water heater to keep your household running efficiently every day of the year. It’s the reason that you enjoy warm showers in the morning, and it’s why you can efficiently clean your clothes in the washing machine. Eventually, however, it may start to show signs of wear that indicate it’s time to replace it. Here are three to keep in mind.

When Should You Replace Your Water Heater?

1. It’s Old

Homeowners can expect the average water heater to last for approximately 10 years. This depends largely on how often it’s used through the years, and whether or not it’s properly maintained. Assuming regular usage, however, you may find that it eventually starts to behave sluggishly as it ages. Common signs of aging include inefficient heating and frequent repairs.

2. It’s Noisy

Your water heater shouldn’t produce loud, unpleasant banging and rumbling noises. They almost always indicate problems, and in most cases, they’re due to an accumulation of sediment at the base of the heater’s tank. This develops when the water goes through its natural heating and reheating cycle.

Over time, sediment forms, and unless you flush it regularly, it will eventually harden to create a thick barrier at the base. This scaly buildup affects the heater’s efficiency and may also lead to premature failure if it causes corrosion that leads to cracking.

3. It’s Small

While size may not always have been a concern, it’s possible that you expanded your family over the years or added a room to your property. In that case, a heater that was once appropriately sized for the house may no longer be an efficient choice.

You may notice that it no longer heats efficiently, which could also be due to a broken thermostat or a damaged heating element. While those issues are reparable, you’ll need to replace the appliance entirely if the problem is due to improper size.

Do you seek a reliable plumber to inspect your water heater? Turn to the team at Bernie Buchner, Inc., in La Crosse, WI. Serving the community for more than 60 years, the company offers a variety of plumbing services. They’re available 24 hours a day, every day of the week to assist in the event of an emergency. In addition to plumbing repairs, they also offer sewer pipe repair services. Visit them online for information, or call (608) 784-9000 to schedule an appointment. You can also text “JOIN” to (608) 480-8709 to receive text message updates.