How do you know if your water heater has served you for as long as it can without risking costly problems like tank leaks and bursting? For tankless systems, identifying water heater replacement time can be challenging. Tankless water heaters typically serve with minimal issues for up to 20 years or more. At Covenant Plumbing, we help you get the most out of your hot water systems with expert repairs and maintenance. We can provide clear information about determining water heater replacement time. In some cases, the annual inspection will determine that your tank is corroded to the point of needing replacement, and in tankless systems, the heat exchanger can be a key factor. Here are some more things to know about water heater replacement in Bloomington, IL that can help plan ahead and even budget for a replacement.
Getting the Longest Service Life Before Water Heater Replacement
Proper maintenance keeps your water heater performing efficiently so it costs less to operate, and also helps it last longer. For tank-based units, whether they’re standard electric or gas models or hybrid units that use heat pump technology, they all have a tank that needs maintenance. Our plumbers check out the tank and the anode rod, a device that helps balance the water chemistry to reduce corrosion and any bacteria growth. There are different types of anode rods depending on your water quality, and you’ll get the right replacement, usually only every few years when you schedule regular maintenance. If the anode rod wears down to nothing, sacrificing its material to keep corrosion down, you’ll experience a shortened tank lifetime. Removing sediment also helps preserve the tank, and it allows the bottom heating element to heat the water without going through accumulated material. In tankless units, sediment can also be a problem. The heat exchanger needs to be flushed from time to time. Some models use a stainless steel heat exchanger to extend its lifetime and control corrosion. For tankless models, keeping the vent clean is critical as well, and many units will sound an alert when it hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Proper maintenance checks the pressure relief valve for safety on tank-based units and verifies the numerous safety sensors on tankless ones.
Planning for Water Heater Replacement
When a routine inspection or a visit to determine the source of leaks indicates your tank-based water heater’s tank integrity is weak, it’s time to think about whether you want to make a direct replacement or switch to another type for energy savings or convenience. Our plumber may indicate that there are other reasons to make a change such as reduced performance or efficiency, but tank integrity is the most common. You definitely want to avoid water discharge from the tank, which can be the result of waiting too long for water heater replacement. For tankless units, the heat exchanger condition and overall performance are key indicators that it’s time to make a change. Typically, tank-based replacement time is when it’s 8-12 years old, sometimes as much as 15 with good maintenance. Tankless is often good for up to 20 years. Your water quality can also be a factor affecting the lifespan of your water heater, creating sediment from hard water and also corrosion of the metals in the unit.
Choosing the Right Water Heater for Your Home
It can be tempting to simply swap your existing water heater for an equivalent new model, and our team performs plenty of those services. We drain, disconnect, and replace the unit, and leave the space cleaner than we found it. In some cases, usually depending on energy costs, homeowners have us change from gas to electric or the reverse. Since your water heater, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, uses about 20 percent of your annual energy budget, making choices based on energy cost can be wise. Efficiency also drives replacement decisions. That’s why many people consider a hybrid water heater, similar in form to a standard tank-based unit. It has a bit more equipment on top to harvest heat from the air. These units use electric heating only when the heat pump mechanism isn’t able to harvest enough on its own, saving a lot of energy. For even more energy savings, and a switch from a typical 40-gallon capacity to unlimited hot water flow, tankless units are a great option as well. Basic Electric and gas connections are required as appropriate for each type of tank-based system. Tankless units typically use less energy overall but require a higher capacity electric or gas connection when they’re heating water.
Tankless Hot Water Heater Conversion
Removing your large water heater and replacing it with a small tankless unit can free up a lot of space in Bloomington, IL. The tankless system saves energy by switching on only when hot water is needed, and not reheating a stored quantity of water. If you use 40 gallons of hot water per day or less, the energy savings can be significant. As your usage increases for a large household, your energy consumption rises accordingly. It’s still a good deal and offers on-demand hot water for as long as you need it. The limitation on tankless units is the flow rate, and units can be installed that provide higher rates of hot water flow to accommodate showers and clothes washing at the same time, for example.
Your Water Heater Replacement and Servicing Experts in Bloomington
At Covenant Plumbing, we can help you maximize the performance and service life of your home’s water heater. When the time comes for a water heater replacement, we’re ready to answer any questions you have about your alternatives and schedule a well-organized, clean and prompt replacement service. We’re here to make your life easier and more relaxed with skilled professional plumbing services in Bloomington, IL. Call today for maintenance and help determine if it’s the right time for a convenient water heater replacement in your home.
