Let’s talk about water heaters. It goes without saying that water heaters are an integral part of any plumbing system and with that being the case, are an item that we reference quite often here on our plumbing blog. After all, if you’re going to have a better understanding of how your plumbing system works, you’ll need to know a little bit about water heaters, right? And while water heaters are incredibly durable given the wear and tear they experience on a daily basis, they aren’t built to last forever. Over time, this consistent usage will eventually force you to make the decision to have a new one installed. Granted, it’s worth pointing out that regular maintenance can be very beneficial when it comes to getting the maximum years out of your water heater. Not to mention, maintaining your water heater is fairly straightforward so it’s certainly worth adding the maintenance items to your regular to-do list. Nonetheless, with this week’s blog post, we are going to talk about what can prompt you to invest in a water heater replacement, as well as what you should look for in the plumbing contractor that you hire to complete the installation.
Before we get started with all of that water heater talk though, we would first like to welcome any first-time visitors to our plumbing blog. Welcome to Stine-Nichols Plumbing! As a plumbing business located in North Kansas City, MO, our team is pleased to offer residential, commercial and new construction plumbing services throughout the Kansas City area. Unsurprisingly, water heaters are definitely an item we deal with on a regular basis. It doesn’t matter if that be installing new water heaters, repairing existing ones or maintaining them, our technicians are trained on all things water heaters. Now, time to discuss the investment of a water heater replacement.
When is it time for a water heater replacement?
Age – An easy way to get a general idea of the current state of your water heater is based on the age of it. Generally speaking, you can expect to get roughly 12 years out of a tank water heater and 20+ years out of a tankless water heater. Keep in mind these are just estimates and don’t guarantee the longevity of one’s water heater. In any case though, it can be helpful to keep this in mind. If your water heater is starting to experience frequent issues or not functioning like normal and has reached those thresholds, it may soon be time for a water heater replacement.
Leak – While it’s never a good idea to procrastinate on any plumbing repairs, a leak is a problem that should command your immediate attention. Although, you can also say that some leaks are more severe than others too. A running toilet is a leak that you don’t want to let sit unfixed for a long period of time, but it’s also not an emergency situation either. A leak around your water heater is important though! The key question with this is where the leak arises from. Is it the tank itself? Is it coming from the T&P discharge line? Is it the fittings/piping up above? Depending on the location, you can find yourself needing different solutions and some of those may entail a water heater replacement.
Other – Along with an older water heater and one that’s leaking, what else can lead you to replacing your water heater? How about a lack of hot water? While this could be the result of not having a big enough tank for your water heating needs, it could also signal a water heater that’s experiencing issues. Another problem sign could be the result of a lack of maintenance. If you haven’t been routinely flushing your water heater, mineral sediment can build-up and present some issues over time. An example of this would be a noisy water heater that seems to make a popping sound. While it may not require a replacement, it’s worth having a professional take a look. How about the quality of hot water? Does your hot water appear to have a rusty color to it? If so, that could be due to your water heater breaking down and suffering from corrosion.
In the end, there are a number of potential signs that could signal a water heater replacement. However, it’s also worth mentioning that some of these issues can be resolved without a complete replacement and may simply require replacing an individual component. Items like the anode rod and expansion tank are a couple of ones that you may need to replace before the actual heater fails!
Who should you hire for the water heater replacement?
The question now becomes who you will hire to complete the water heater replacement. We just went through a few of the reasons as to why the replacement would be needed in the first place. However, that is only half of the equation. The next part will revolve around finding a qualified and reputable plumbing company to install your new water heater. What types of questions should you be asking?
All About Water Heaters – Which water heater brand are they going to install? This is an important question to ensure they’re installing a reliable brand. Will the installation include an expansion tank? These are a given nowadays, but it’s definitely worth confirming that the expansion tank will be included. If it’s a tankless water heater, do they have experience installing those as well? Tankless water heaters are becoming more and more popular, so if you’re choosing to switch to one of those, you’ll want to make sure they’re trained to do so.
Business Information – Assuming they check all of the boxes above and are able to successfully complete the water heater replacement, don’t forget to also do a little due diligence on the company itself. How long have they been in business? Do they possess the necessary licenses and insurance? Do they have any online reviews from past customers that you can check out? How about social media? Are there any past projects on there that you can take a look at? All of these can help you formulate an opinion on the company! If their price is much higher than you expected, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get another quote to see if it’s an accurate price. At the same time, if it is much lower than you anticipated, that could raise some red flags too!
In the end, you can’t understate how critical it is to hire an experienced and reputable plumbing professional. After all, you want the project completed safely, professionally and at a fair price!
Is it time for a water heater replacement? Call Stine-Nichols Plumbing!
While any plumbing issue can be a temporary inconvenience, there’s no denying that losing your water heater can be quite troublesome. After all, it’s not hard to see how this could disrupt your daily routine. Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we’re well aware of this and have always emphasized proving timely and efficient plumbing repairs. Whether that be in regards to drain cleaning, installing a new water heater or anything else, we’ll give our best effort at having an experienced plumber on-site as soon as possible.
If you live in or near the Kansas City area and need a go-to plumber for all things plumbing, including water heater installations, we have you covered! Give us a call at (816) 348-3481 to speak with a member of our team and request a free estimate. We hope that your water heater continues to operate like normal, but if there ever are any issues, don’t hesitate to reach out.