Water Heater Warning Signs

Is it time to replace your hot water heater? It’s one of those easy to ignore appliances in your home, but if you ignore the warning signs you could be dealing with a ticking time bomb capable of causing thousands of dollars in damage. So, in the interest of protecting your home, Mast Heating & Cooling has put together this list of signs you may need a new water heater installation in your Zeeland, MI home.

1. Leaks – It doesn’t matter if it’s old or new, a leaking water heater is not something to ignore. Slow leaks are dangerous because they can go on for a long time without being noticed. The result can be major structural damage. Suddenly, major leaks can pour thousands of gallons of water into your home in a few hours, ruining prized possessions or requiring major restoration work. If you see corrosion or moisture and mold around the base of the heater, you’re seeing signs of developing leaks. Repairs may be tempting, but when it comes to a leaking water heater we believe replacement is the way to go.
2. Age and Usage – Like anything else, water heaters have a useful life, generally speaking, 10-12 years if it gets regular use. Some suggest you should just plan on replacing it once the warranty expires. That may be a little extreme, but you should certainly increase your water heater maintenance schedule with your Zeeland, MI contractor. The tank needs to be flushed regularly to remove sediment build-up.
3. Water Temperature Issues – The appliance is called a hot water heater for a reason. It’s not called a lukewarm water heater. If that’s what you’re getting, or the heater is producing less and less hot water, your burner or heating element could be on its last legs. They can be replaced by a trained technician, but it may not be worth the cost depending on how old the water heater is.
4. Steady Stream of Repairs – It’s a bit like that old saying, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. If you are making seemingly continual repairs and new problems keep popping up, you are likely fighting a losing battle. If you’ve made several repairs over the course of a year or year-and-a-half, it’s a good indication you are headed toward a major breakdown.

If you have questions or are ready to talk about replacing your water heater, call Mast Heating & Cooling now. We feature traditional tank-style heaters, and the newer tankless water heaters for your home in Zeeland, MI or anywhere in Southwest Michigan. We offer models from leading manufacturers like Bradford White and Navien.

If you are still hesitating, maybe this last item will convince you. Water heaters are one of the top two reasons for water damage insurance claims (washing machines are the other). Do you really want to take that chance?