Austin Plumbing Services

If you have noticed a steady uptick in the number of repairs you have to call in for your water heater, you need to take note. A high-functioning water heater should not need more than a couple of repairs a year if any at all. If the water heater is consistently underperforming and requiring professional services, these costs could add up. Replacing an old water heater may offer cost-saving solutions if the alternative is paying for frequent repairs.

Have you noticed a change in the cost to run your utilities? If you have noticed a dramatic change in how much it costs to run warm water, then that is a warning sign that you may need to replace your water heater. These issues could point to the water heater failing:

• Your water heater is making loud noises. Loud, knocking noises coming from the water heater indicates a sediment buildup. When that sediment hardens, it can move around inside the tank and cause various disturbing noises.

• Your water heater leaks. Leaks on a water heater are bad news. Leaks can look like large spills next to the tank or water corrosion on the side of the tank, but regardless of how it looks this is a clear red flag. A leak occurs when the temperature or the pressure are too high, and can result in an explosion if it is not handled immediately.

• Your water heater doesn't perform like it used to. If you have noticed that your faucet cannot produce hot water or that your water looks rusted or cloudy, then your water heater needs special attention. A professional plumber will be able to identify the source of the problem and assess to what degree you need to replace parts of the heater or if the whole thing needs to go.