What Factors to Consider Before Replacing a Water Heater

Factors to Consider Before Replacing a Water Heater

Replacing a water heater is a serious decision that requires careful consideration. Ideally, this should be done when you have an old water heater that has exceeded its service life and become unreliable. Or, unfortunately, the water heater is damaged to such an extent that repair is no longer possible.

When the time comes, certain factors must be taken into account to ensure that replacing a water heater is the best choice for your home. Review the following list to learn more.

Need for Replacement

Before starting to purchase a new water heater, you should be certain that this is the only viable solution. That way, you can ensure that the cost of a completely new water heater is justified.

To help you make a decision, here are some clear signs that replacement of the water heater is necessary:

• Your water heater is eight to twelve years old or older;
• Problems such as leaks and corrosion keep recurring, even with regular maintenance;
• You are moving to new housing and cannot take the old water heater with you;
• Your bills keep rising, even with no significant increase in usage.

If you have noticed any of these signs, it's time to call a reliable plumber to discuss all water heater options.

Efficiency

If you, like most homeowners, don't want to see a sharp spike in bills due to the water heater, this can happen with outdated models that are no longer as efficient as they used to be. Therefore, before purchasing a new device, always check and evaluate the efficiency of the water heater.

Size

The size of the water heater and your family's needs are closely linked. Generally, the larger the family, the higher the consumption. This also means you can benefit more from a larger water heater. You don't need to buy more than necessary, as larger water heaters also mean higher costs. Therefore, it's important to conduct this evaluation or calculation as accurately as possible.

Besides your family's needs for a water heater, also consider the available physical space. Check whether the water heater you want to buy will fit in the place where the old one used to stand.

Type

After determining the size, you can move on to choosing the type of water heater. There are many options and they are classified as follows:

• Standard Storage Tank Water Heater features a tank, making it ideal for everyday use;
• Direct and Indirect Water Heater uses the home's existing heating system to heat water;
• Direct Water Heater heats water directly without needing a tank;
• Solar Water Heaters, as the name suggests, use solar energy to heat water. This is an excellent choice for families transitioning to renewable energy sources since this option is more eco-friendly. Additionally, using clean energy like sunlight helps reduce consumption and utility bills;
• Heat Pump Water Heaters, which transfer heat from one part of the home to another, instead of simply generating heat solely for hot water.

If the list and specifications above seem too technical to convince you of your decision, feel free to ask professional plumbers for their opinion. You can get valuable advice, especially if the new water heater differs from the old one.

Conclusion

A water heater is one of the most frequently used household appliances in almost every family today. You may not pay much attention to it, but you will notice a problem when it occurs. If luck is on your side and the malfunction is minor, repair is still possible. However, purchasing a new one is the best option if it breaks down too often or a specialist declares the device unsuitable for repair.

When replacing a water heater at home, however, first take the above factors into account. A water heater is a major purchase; therefore, going through some checklists beforehand will give you peace of mind that the water heater is a good buy.