Serving all of Southern California
A water heater that leaks is almost always a problem. If you have a tank water heater and you notice water is pooling around the base, it’s time to call for a licensed professional plumber to look at the system and find out what’s wrong. Leaking water can indicate a number of major problems that require repairs or, in some cases, a full replacement of the water heater.
However, there is an important exception, which we’ll talk about below.
When you turn on the taps in your house, whether for a sink faucet or a shower head, and the water pressure feels weaker than normal, there are a number of different possibilities. In most cases, this is a municipal issue that will soon be remedied. But it could also be leaks, hard water build-up, or problems with the water main to your house.
If the low water pressure is coming only from the hot water taps, then the trouble can be narrowed down a bit further. You could have a build-up of corrosion, sediment, or other debris in the hot water lines for the home, but not in the cold water lines. Or … you may have hot water heater problems. If the low water pressure is occurring at all the hot water taps, this is probably what you’re dealing with.
When people ask our experts this question—and it’s a question we hear often—what they usually want to know is if they should have their current aging water heater replaced with a new one. But it’s also something people ask when they get a new water heater so they know what to expect, and how much return they’ll receive from their investment in the new unit.
The question doesn’t have a single, simple answer. “It depends,” is one way to answer it, but that won’t satisfy anybody. Depends on what? And what can be done to see that it last for as long as possible?
As professional plumbers who work on everything from small leaks in homes to large scale commercial plumbing installations, we’re used to encountering one of the biggest enemies of all plumbing systems: corrosion. Corrosion is a chemical reaction between water and metal in the presence of oxygen, resulting in a weakening of the metal. There are different types of corrosion, but rust is the most familiar. No matter the type, corrosion is straight up bad news for metal because it eats into it and eventually causes it to flake away. (In fact, the word corrosion comes from the Latin word meaning “to gnaw.” Corrosion gnaws away at metal.)
The tank water heater in your home is an appliance that is in danger of corrosion because of the contact between metal and water. But, you’ve probably noticed, the water heater is quite resistant to corrosion. That’s because models are designed this way, with a number of safeguards to stop the tank or other components from beginning to rust.
However, corrosion can still affect a water heater. When that happens, does that mean it’s time to have the water heater replaced?
If you have noticed water starting to pool around the base of your storage tank water heater and you’re concerned about it … well, you’re already on the right track! The only place water should be escaping for a hot water tank is a few drips from the temperature and pressure relief valve. Anything else indicates trouble with the water heater. In most cases this will require calling for professional water heater services in Santa Ana, CA or wherever you are in Southern California. Fortunately, you have some of the best professional plumbers available any time of the day or night! Our plumbers are always here to help—because we’re always open for business!
Believe us, a leaking water heater isn’t something you want to ignore. Not only will the operation of your water heater be in jeopardy, but the leaks can also create water damage. (If this is already a problem, we offer water damage restoration services.)
We often recommend that homeowners look into the installation of a tankless water heater when it’s time to replace an aging water heating system. Switching from the conventional storage tank model that so many homes have to a system that heats up water on demand without storing it offers many benefits: reduced energy costs, no water supply that can run out, long lifespan, and smaller size.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean that a tankless water heater is always the top choice for a home. In certain situations, staying with a tank water heater is the better choice for a replacement.
To get the most from any appliance in your home, you want it to last as long as possible. There’s no “repair” more expensive than having to replace the entire appliance, after all!
But no mechanical device will last forever, and at some point you’ll have to face the question of “repair or replace?” When it comes to an appliance as important to your daily life as your water heater, this can be a difficult question to answer. We can help you determine when a water heater should be replaced.
Sweetwater Plumbing
12345 Mountain Ave Suite N,
Chino,
CA
91710
CA License # 889182
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