Home 101: When To Service Your Water Heater

Most of us don't think a whole lot about our water heater until the moment we discover that we don't have any hot water. Cold showers aren't fun for anyone, but the fact is that both tank heaters and tankless heaters eventually need to be repaired or replaced. There are a few things, though, that you can do to prolong the life of your and save yourself some money at the same time.

Maintenance

Your water heater will last longer and perform more efficiently if it's flushed once a year to remove sediment and minerals. Even if it's the homeowner who performs this task, it's important to have a trained technician inspect the water heater on a regular basis to ensure its safety. If a water heater is functioning inefficiently or was not properly installed, it could be a prime source of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can lead to serious illness and death.

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Repairs

If your water isn't getting hot enough or if it's not getting hot at all, this could just be an indication that the pilot light is out, a circuit breaker has been tripped or you have a broken thermostat. For any one of these issues, bringing in a professional to repair the problem will most likely be more cost effective than a full replacement. The average cost to repair a water heater is $523, and most homeowners reporting paying as little as $205 for repairs.

If your water isn't getting hot at all, this could indicate the failure of the whole heating system.

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Replacement

Other signs you may need a new water heater include rusty water (or water that comes out another non-clear color), water that has a metallic taste, or louder-than-normal popping or cracking sounds coming from the heater. Leaks around the water heater are a significant sign of trouble and indicate major internal failure.

If you do need to install a new water heater, you'll need to choose between two different styles: Tank and tankless.

Tank: The average cost of a tank water heater with installation is $889. For a professional, installation is fairly simple and quick. The system, is always on, though, so it's not as energy efficient as a tankless water heater. And the average lifespan is only around 12 years.

Tankless: The average cost of a tankless water heater with installation is $3,000. A tankless heater can save you about 25 percent on your water heating costs annually and has a lifespan of around 20 years. The downside of a tankless water heater, aside from its initial installation cost, is that it can't handle high hot water demands like a conventional tank water.

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