Sometimes it’s hard to decipher whether or not your home appliances, such as your water heater, need a quick repair or a replacement all together. In instances like this, it’s best to listen to advice from a professional and call on the expertise of a licensed home inspector.
Check out a few of these great tips for determining whether it’s time to repair or replace your water heater:
Let’s start by stating that the average life expectancy of a water heat is about 8 to 12 years. With that being said, if your water heater is more than ten years old, it leaks water and works when it wants, odds are it probably needs to be replaced.
If your water heater makes loud, obnoxious noises, this could potentially mean that the anode rod broke and is floating in the tank. Another reason for the noise could be the presence of sediments inside the water tank. To try and resolve this issue, begin by flushing out old water; if the noise continues, outside help may be necessary.
The pilot light is another common issue that arises with water tanks. If your pilot light won’t stay lit, that usually means that there is a faulty thermocouple. In an event like this, we suggest enlisting the assistance of a professional. Attempting to fix the heater without proper training or tools could result in an even worse situation that requires a total replacement.
If you often smell the scent of sulfur, your water heater is at risk for rust and corrosion. Unfortunately, there is no repair for tanks that are severely corroded to the point of leakage. This can occur with extremely old tanks and in which this case, the tank will have to be replaced.
While most of these issues can come down to a quick fix with no replacement necessary, if you find that your tank is acting up and you are unsure what to do, call Pristine Home Inspections & Testing and let us take a look. Our inspectors will be able to guide you towards your next step so that you can return to a peaceful state of mind.
(Source: Lowe’s)