With typical water heaters lasting anywhere between 8 and 10 years, it can be easy to forget about yours. However, when your home suddenly won’t deliver hot water, it’s likely time to invest in a new water heater. While you may be tempted to purchase and try to install your own water heater, it’s best left up to the professionals.

They Know Mandated Requirements

Unfortunately, just swapping out your broken water heater for a new one isn’t as simple as it sounds. New legislation has been passed, including the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, which sets mandatory requirements for all new water heater installations. Your local water heater replacement specialist will know federal, state, and local laws regarding water heater installation and can ensure that your new water heater is installed up to code.

They Can Assist You In Picking Out The Right Unit

Unless you work as a water heater salesman, it’s very unlikely that you have a wealth of knowledge about water heaters. Most homeowners rely on sources like Google to try and get answers to their questions. However, that’s not the best option. Rather, hiring a plumbing professional ensures that you have the right knowledge available to you.

A plumbing professional will be capable of telling you what size water heater your home requires. Getting a water heater that is too small will result in constantly running out of hot water. Getting a water heater that is too big will drive up energy costs for no necessary reason. In addition, plumbing professionals can recommend energy-efficient models and other features that can make your budget and life easier.

They Have The Skills And Proper Equipment

When replacing an old water heater, you’re going to need the proper tools to do so. For most homeowners, this requires going to the hardware store and purchasing new, costly tools to get the job done. When you hire a professional to handle your water heater installation, they have all the proper equipment on hand to do the job. In addition, they have the necessary skills to safely and effectively perform a water heater replacement that most homeowners simply do not.

They Do The Heavy Lifting And Get Rid Of The Broken Unit

Water heaters weigh around 150 and 200 pounds, depending on the size that your home requires. Professional plumbers will have the manpower to move the old water heater out of your home and bring the new one inside. Most plumbing professionals will even offer a disposal service to take away the broken unit. This way, you don’t have to worry about dealing with a leftover unit hanging around the exterior of your home.

Signs Of A Failing Water Heater

You don’t always need to wait until your hot water heater stops working to replace it. Since you’ve learned that the average lifespan is between 8 and 10 years, you should start paying attention to signs of the water heater nearing the end of its life during this period. Some of the most common signs of a water heater that is getting ready to fail include:

• Leaking
  
  If you start to notice a puddling of water underneath your water heater, it’s typically a sign of an internal malfunction. Unfortunately, many internal water heater problems simply can’t be remedied. Rather, the whole unit will need to be replaced.
  
• Blocked Drain Valve
  
  We’ve all seen those white water stains that can get on surfaces like glass. With so much water going in and out of our hot water heater, it will leave behind small sediment. Over time, this sediment will collect at the bottom of your hot water tank and can block the drain valve.
  
• Tank Corrosion
  
  Traditionally, hot water heaters were made of steel. Over time, this steel will start to rust. As the corrosion forms, you’ll notice a brownish tint to your water. This is a clear sign that it’s time to replace your water heater for the safety of you and your family.

Getting a water heater replaced isn’t anything new. Homeowners have been dealing with this need since the first water heater was introduced back in 1889. The trick to ensuring a smooth and effective replacement is to hire a plumbing professional to do the job.

E Dennis specializes in both residential and commercial hot water heater replacement. Whether you’re suddenly dealing with a loss of hot water or you’ve noticed the common signs of the ending lifespan of your unit, simply give us a call today. We’ll recommend the right replacement unit to fit your needs and get it installed quickly.