What you need to know about water heater replacement in Atlanta.
However, there are a variety of new options on the market today. Depending on why you’re planning to replace your system, you may want to consider a different choice that better suits the needs of your family.
When to Replace Your Old Water Heater
Many people wait until their water heater has failed completely before considering a replacement. Unfortunately, this can lead to a variety of horrible side effects, including massive flooding, and months of cold showers or poorly washed clothes.
To avoid making the same mistake, here are ten signs it might be time to replace your old water heater before it’s entirely dead:
- You’re experiencing low water pressure.
- The soap never seems to rinse from your clothes in the washer.
- You frequently run out of hot water while showering.
- You constantly have to turn the heating temperature up to keep your water hot.
- Your water heater is over ten years old.
- There is rust in your water.
- The tank and pipes are making strange rumbling noises.
- You’re noticing water around the base of the tank.
- Your water never actually gets hot.
- You have your plumber on speed dial because it needs constant repairs.
While there are a number of indicators which can point to the fact it’s time to replace your water heater, these are the ones we hear most often from our customers.
When to Consider an Upgrade
When it comes to choosing whether or not to upgrade, it really boils down to your family’s needs. Here are a few things to look at when deciding whether or not to upgrade your current system:
- Did your old water heater meet your family’s needs? If yes, it may not make sense to make changes. If you had plenty of hot water for all of the activities your family does on a regular basis, there might not be a need to make any updates. However, if you frequently found yourself running out of hot water, you may want to consider tankless options, or opt for a larger-sized reservoir.
- Is energy efficiency of critical importance to you? Traditional tank-style water heaters tend to use more energy than their tankless counterparts. This is because the unit continues to heat hot water at all times, ensuring the entire tank is full of hot water available for delivery at any hour of the day. By contrast, tankless water heaters only heat water as it’s needed. So energy is only used when there’s demand for hot water.
- Do you need hot water immediately? While tankless water heaters are highly efficient, there can sometimes be a lag between when you turn on a hot water spigot and when the hot water arrives at the faucet. This is because it takes time for the tankless heater to crank on and heat a sufficient amount of water. The downside is you can end up wasting perfectly good (but cold) water while waiting for the hot stuff to arrive.
- Does a higher installation cost scare you? Let’s face it: unless you already have a tankless unit in place, it’s going to cost more to install. Not only are tankless water heaters more expensive, they usually require plumbing adaptations to work successfully with your home’s system. So if you currently have a traditional tank water heater in place, it will be cheaper to replace it with another tank-style unit. However, those costs can sometimes be recouped over the life of the unit, based on the monthly and annual energy savings. It really comes down to whether you’re willing to pay more money out of pocket up front to save a few bucks every month on your energy bill.
There are a variety of other considerations to look at when deciding whether or not to upgrade, but these are the main contributors most people should examine carefully.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
We can help. If you’re in need of water heater replacement in Atlanta, don’t wait; call us today at 404-873-1881, and let Morningside get to work for you.