Water Heater Replacement Atlanta
Do you need a water heater replacement in Atlanta? First, if you must ask, chances are good a new water heater is in your future. Second, and more importantly, it is time to do some budgeting. If you are like most, your first question about water heater replacement in Atlanta (or anything else) is what it means for your budget. Fair enough: Let us talk business.
Before you can do so effectively, of course, you are going to need more information. Just like any other repair in Midtown and around Atlanta, getting a new water heater is going to cost you some dough. Buying a new system can range significantly, depending on brand and features. Still, it will represent a considerable expenditure either way.
Certainly, it is important to consider the cost and long-term benefits of installing a new water heater. So, grab a coffee, take a deep breath, and get ready to think about water heater replacement in Atlanta. Let us dive in.
Is It Time to Replace That Hot Water Heater?
- Do not forget to check the water heater’s temperature in your house, especially if you plan to leave for an extended period. It would help if you kept the temperature no higher than 120 degrees. It will help to reduce energy use and prevent your system from burning out.
- First, if you are going to replace your water heater, you need to make sure it is the right time. Otherwise, you may spend too much money when your appliance still has good years left in it.
- It is essential as a homeowner to know where your main water shut-off valve is and how to operate it in an emergency. The first step for burst pipes is to stop water from flooding your home at once. Locate the main water supply valve and regularly turn it on and off to keep it easily operable in an emergency.
- An honest plumber will always advise replacing a water heater in two cases. 1. When the water heater is incredibly old and has outlasted its predicted lifespan. Water heater repairs do not make sense for an ancient unit. 2. Also, do not repair a water heater that does not work well and shows major signs of not doing its job.
What are those signs, you ask? Here are some of the most obvious:
- The serial number indicates the heater is out of date. You can find the number on the upper front of the water heater, and it looks like 1191A39968. You can see a date in the form of 11/91 or November 1991. Sometimes the four-digit date will appear buried in the number, but it is there. If it is older than ten years, it is certainly replacement time.
- The storage tank water heater in your home needs to have regular flushing to work properly. There is a valve at the lower front of the water heater. Here is where to connect a hose. Open this valve all the way to flush scale and deposits out of the system.
- You hear much knocking and pinging inside the heater, which indicates the buildup of rust and other debris.
- While you can flush your heater throughout its useful life, eventually, the accumulation is too great. If knocks and pings become too frequent, it is time.
- When you turn on the hot water in the kitchen or bathroom, you see rusty water.
- Sometimes it is only rusty for a few seconds, or sometimes it takes on a yellowish cast. Even if you do not notice the water itself, yellow staining on tile, grout, or porcelain is also a sign.
- Water is pooling around the base of the water heater. Pooling water indicates a crack somewhere in the tank, failing valves, or other problems. A tiny leak can easily become a flood of many gallons of water in your home.
- These are usually fixable if the heater is only 8-10 years old, but after that, replacement is a safer bet. Otherwise, you might waste money on repairs that fail quickly.
- You have a growing family. Your storage tank capacity is now too small to accommodate everyone in the household who needs hot water.
- Your hot water taps do not produce extremely hot water, no matter how long you wait between showers and other hot water use.
- It is like you have become an unwilling member of the Polar Bear Club. Ditto if you turn the water heater up all the way and do not notice an appreciable increase in heat.
- If the water in your shower or tub seems cold, even though the water coming out of your kitchen faucet is hot, do not assume the worst. The faucets in your shower or tub enclosure have been preset to prevent burning. Most newer faucets have a little mechanism to prevent turning the handle to the point where you get the hottest water. You can remove the faucet handle to adjust that mechanism to allow the handle to turn more for much hotter water.
Water Heater Replacement: The Cons
Replacing your water heater will make a significant dent in your budget. A traditional water heater will run you around $1,000 on average, whereas a tankless gas water heater is $3,000. Either way, it is expensive. Suppose you must do any rewiring or other home updates. In that case, you will pay additional hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That is the bad news.
Atlanta Water Heater Replacement: The Pros
The good news is that a new water heater is bound to use less energy. Considering that water heating accounts for about 18% of your home’s energy use, it seriously pays to increase efficiency. After all, if that water heater is running at half efficiency – which many outdated heaters are – you will waste hundreds of dollars a year.
Other Benefits Include:
- The disappearance of those annoying symptoms above.
- Hot water whenever you need it.
- Separate hot water to bottom stories and top stories if you choose to install more than one tankless water heater.
- On-demand hot water with a tankless unit
The Takeaway: Water Heater Replacement in Atlanta Is a Budgetary Win
Still unsure about what this means for your budget. Let us do the math. The average monthly electric bill in Atlanta is $160, which translates to $1320 per year. Heating water is 18% of your home energy bill, which means it accounts for about $237 per year. If you have an energy-efficient heater, you will get that $237/year rate. However, suppose you have an out-of-date or inefficient electric water heater. In that case, you may lose half your energy efficiency, pushing that yearly expense to around $475.
Real Energy Savings
Here is where we start to see a real gap between traditional storage-tank and tankless water heaters. Let us assume a tankless water heater costs $2,000 more than a traditional tank unit. That is $3,000 for a high-end tankless water heater without wiring or a lower-cost one with some home updates required, minus the $1,000 cost of a traditional tank water heater. At a $237 difference per year in energy savings, you can make up that $2,000 in less than ten years. That is when you would need to buy another traditional storage-tank water heater. After all, tankless water heaters have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years, and up can substantially reduce the chances you will have to deal with a water heater replacement for decades.
Hot Water for Days or Decades
However, get an energy-efficient tankless water heater, and you will have a good water heater for the next 20 to 40 years at no extra cost. So even if it takes you a full ten years to recoup the cost from the more expensive option, you now get a free ride for the next decade – and you save the Earth’s resources at the same time. Before you go on a vacation, set your gas water heater to vacation. For an electric water heater, turn the breaker off to save electricity by not heating the water you are not using. When you combine that with the benefits from above, the choice is obvious.
Where Should You Go for a New Water Heater Replacement in Atlanta?
If you are considering a plumbing system improvement in your home, consider the cost to hire a professional versus doing it yourself. After thinking about how much it will cost, you must figure out what materials to use. It will take much time to determine what to do. Also, consider the time and skills required to map out your plumbing system. Most people find it cheaper and less frustrating to hire a professional plumber.
Are You Ready for a Water Heater Replacement in Atlanta?
Well, it is no secret that we here at Morningside Plumbing are pretty big fans of Morningside Plumbing. That is understood. More to the point, though, our customers are big fans of us as well. We have been serving the Midtown Atlanta area for decades and boast a combined 75 years’ plumbing experience. If you are looking for a plumber you can trust to help you make the right water heater decision, you have come to the right place. Click to contact the Morningside Plumbing staff to find out more.
