Answering the R&R (Repair vs Replace) Question For Your Water Heater

It’s frustrating to hop in shower and realize you have no, or very little hot water. Whether your water heater is gas or electric, several things can go wrong that take away the hot water you need for showers, baths, dishwashing, and laundry. If you are having or have a history of hot water shortages in your Oxford, MI or Waterford, MI home it’s time to fix the problem. Kotz Heating, Cooling and Plumbing is here to help. Let’s start by looking at some of the most common issues.

Old Water Heaters Can Be Expensive

Any time after your water heater gets to be 10+ years old there is a good chance it is on borrowed time. That’s especially true if you have ignored water heater maintenance over the years. The other factor in this equation is our geography. Most household water in Southeast Michigan is hard with a very high mineral content which speeds up the aging process inside a water heater. Kotz knows it’s a tough decision to invest in a replacement but always remember that in addition to reliability, a new more efficient water heater can also be cheaper to operate, especially if you choose a new tankless water heater.

Your Water Is Rust-Colored

We’ve already mentioned the hard water issue and it can contribute to corrosion inside the water heater. Seeing rust-colored water coming out of the faucets or in your washing machine is not a good thing. You can reduce the likelihood of this happening with routine maintenance. A water heater should be drained and flushed at least once a year. If you wait, hoping it will eventually clear up, it could cause more serious problems in your Waterford, MI or Oxford, MI home. Severe corrosion can weaken the tank. It’s not a pretty sight when a water heater starts leaking, as it can cause thousands of dollars in water damage.

The Warm Water Seems to Take Forever to Come

Waiting a long time for the water to get hot is no way to live. First, it’s inconvenient and secondly, it wastes a lot of water. While there can be many causes for the waiting game, it generally indicates your water heater is struggling to meet the demand, meaning it is no longer operating efficiently. Again, in some cases maintenance from a professional Kotz plumber can help, but it may be a sign a replacement is in order. To be clear, this is a separate issue from running out of hot water, which may be a sign your water heater is too small. Once again, a tankless system is the perfect solution providing a virtually endless supply of hot water.

Don’t Procrastinate

This isn’t your ancestors’ world where hot water came from a pot on the wood stove. A hot shower, hygienic dishes in the kitchen, and clean laundry are no longer luxuries but are instead necessities. If your water heater is experiencing any of the problems above, reach out to Kotz Heating, Cooling and Plumbing today to help determine whether the solution is repair or replacement.