Your water heater is obviously an important component of your home as it ensures that you have steady access to hot water whenever you need it. However, the older your water heater gets, the more issues it may start to have and the higher the chances become of it completely failing. Worse still, the greater risk there is of it potentially springing a leak and damaging your home. This means that if your water heater is getting up there in age, you should definitely consider having it repaired or replaced. If you opt for regular water heater repair, you can avoid total replacement much longer.
Lower Risk of Leaks and Water Damage
A new water heater will typically last for anywhere between 6 and 12 years on average. Over time, the unit can eventually start to rust or not perform as well as it should. Still, the biggest potential issue with older water heaters is that they are much more liable to start leaking. As a result, you could find yourself facing serious water damage and even mold issues. This is just one of the reasons why it makes sense to have your unit professionally inspected on a regular basis and either repaired or replaced before it completely fails.
Fewer Issues with Rust
Most older water heaters will eventually begin to rust, and this rust is then transferred into your hot water. When this happens, you could end up with your dishwasher not working properly or your clothes coming out of the washing machine covered in rust stains.
Reduced Need for Maintenance and Repairs
Having your water heater professionally maintained every year is the best way to avoid potentially costly repairs. Still, the older your water heater gets, the more likely it is to suffer from various issues that you’ll need to have repaired. In this sense, replacing your aging unit can be a smart financial decision by reducing the need you’ll have to continually spend on repairs to keep it working properly.
Improved Energy Efficiency and Lower Utility Bills
Newer water heaters are far more energy efficient than older units, which means lower costs to operate. Not only that, but the efficiency of even the best water heater will slowly decrease as it ages. This is yet another reason why replacing your old unit is a great choice as it will ensure that you have a steady supply of hot water without having to pay more than you should for it.
As you can see, repairing or replacing your aging water heater can provide you with a number of important benefits. For this reason, it is always a good idea to have your unit regularly inspected and to consider replacing it when it gets much more than 10 years old.