A New Water Heater Is the Perfect Holiday Gift
The best way to beat the cold Colonial Heights winters is with a hot bath or shower. Unfortunately, too many folks this winter will hop into the tub hoping for a relaxing soak only to find that there isn’t enough hot water. Running out of hot water or going without it completely is a disappointing problem that should be dealt with quickly. But how is it possible to know if repair or replacement is best?
Local water heater service experts are here to offer advice about water heaters. Water heaters can be a great gift for the whole family during the cold season. Here is a quick guide to knowing how to deal with aging water heaters as well as when to upgrade to a new model.
Signs That a Water Heater is Close to Needing to Be Replaced
Water heaters are generally very reliable appliances. They may go for years without giving the owner any problems. However, when problems arise, it may be a better decision to opt for a new water heater installation. Here are a few signs that a water heater will need to be replaced soon:
- Unusual sounds like hissing
- Inadequate hot water
- High bills
- Leaks in the tank
- Total loss of hot water
- The current water heater is greater than seven years old
Water Heater Repair vs. Water Heater Replacement 
Some problems that may require repairs are:
- Pilot light problems with natural gas water heaters
- Mineral sediment buildup
- Heating element replacement for electric water heaters
- Neglected maintenance that leads to reduction in efficiency and volume of a water heater
- Leaks around fittings
- Water hammer
- Whining sounds when hot water is turned on
Benefits of Upgrading the Water Heater 
New water heater installation may be the best decision over the cold winter. Some of the benefits of installing a new water heater are:
- Comfort: Near the end of its useful life, a water heater will fail to provide adequate hot water. A new water heater will recover faster and provide a larger volume of hot water even if the tank size isn’t bigger than the current model.
- Savings: New water heaters fall under more stringent energy efficiency guidelines. Reduced energy usage translates to a reduction in utility bills, meaning that spending money on a new water heater will save money in the long run.
- Go Tankless: Water heater replacement is a great time to opt into a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters provide instant and endless hot water while also using less energy than a traditional water tank.
- Reliability: Older tanks are more unreliable, leading to an increase in repair bills. New tanks carry long warranties that protect the buyer against problems for years. Additionally, newer water heaters inherently have fewer problems, so they are unlikely to break down anyway.
About Colonial Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc.
Since 1982, the Colonial Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc. crew has grown to a team of over 50 industry professionals. Their crews maintain the highest levels of training and certification available in the plumbing industry. Call today for fast, highly-rated water heater service in the Colonial Heights, VA area.
