Water heaters perform a tremendous amount of work throughout the year. According to the Department of Energy, 18% of most home’s energy costs go to running the water heater. (A decade ago it was 25%, which shows how much water heater technology is improving at efficiency.) This stress on a water heater will eventually wear it down past the point of no return, where repairs can only patch the system up for a brief time and aren’t cost-effective. The better option is to replace the entire water heater.
How Can I Know My Water Heater Has Reached the End of the Line?
You obviously don’t want to rush into getting a new water heater if your current one still has a few good years of service left in it. If you have doubts about whether it’s time to replace your water heater, our professionals can assist you with making the choice. Below are a few indications that it’s time to give us a call to inspect your water heater.
- Basic age: Tank water heaters last 10–15 years on average. If your water heater is over 15 years old, you should consider a replacement even if nothing seems currently wrong with the system.
- Rising energy bills: With almost 20% of your utility bills going to the water heater, it will start to make a significant difference in costs when age wears it down. Putting in a new water heater will start saving you money right away.
- Lower hot water volume: Are people in your home starting to go with lukewarm showers in the morning? Then water heater is starting to lose its heating power—and that usually means it’s coming to the end of its service life.
- Corrosion: Water heaters are designed with defenses against corrosion. But corrosion will eventually set in, and when it does it almost always means the system needs to be replaced.
Changing Water Heater Type
If you decide that a water heater replacement in Potomac, MD is your best option, you have an opportunity to make a major change from a standard storage tank water heater. There are excellent alternatives to the conventional water heater that is now available that can provide you with improved energy efficiency and overall superior performance:
- Tankless water heaters: Also known as “on-demand-type” water heaters, tankless water heaters are rising in popularity thanks to the many benefits they provide. Tankless systems heat water as it is needed (“on demand”) so there is a constant supply of hot water. They consume less energy because they don’t suffer the standby heat loss of a storage tank system. Although not ideal for all homes, a tankless water heater installation is definitely something to give serious thought.
- Heat pump water heater: This is a variation on the storage tank water heater that uses the power of a heat pump to warm up the water. A heat pump draws thermal energy from the air around the water heater and then transfers it into the tank to heat up the water supply. This is a great alternative to using a standard electric water heater since it costs less to move heat from one place to another compared to generating it through electrical heating elements.
No matter what type of water heater you end up having installed, you can depend on our expert team to handle the service. Request an estimate with us today.
Mallick Plumbing & Heating is the Service Contractor of Choice in Silver Spring, MD and Montgomery County.