Water heaters are essential to home comfort. They provide the warmth you need for a relaxing shower or bath, and they also offer the water temperature you need to wash your clothes or the dishes. The only sad news is that water heaters don’t last forever. Fortunately, you have some options if your water heater is on its last breath or simply outdated. If you’re looking to improve the hot water experience in your Dover, Delaware, home, check out these four reasons to consider an upgrade or replacement.
You Want Hot Water on Demand
When cold weather hits the Dover area, it’s downright oppressive. That’s when you need a hot shower to keep you from becoming a human icicle. However, traditional water heaters don’t have this capacity. Once you turn the shower knob, you’re waiting quite some time before hot water finally emerges from the shower head. If this daily struggle sounds familiar to you, an upgrade is in order.
If you want to upgrade your water heater for on-demand hot water, you have two solid options. The first option is an oil-fired water heater. Typically, these units heat water three to four times faster than an electric or gas water heater. Additionally, we offer oil delivery services, so you never have to leave your home to get more fuel.
If you’re looking to go all-out, a tankless water heater is an even better option. It gives you hot water immediately, and it takes up less space than a typical bulky tank. This frees up space for other items in your basement or closet.
Your Water Heater is Leaking
There’s nothing worse than heading into your basement (or water heater closet) only to find a puddle of water on the floor. This means your water heater is leaking, and there’s little you can do to fix it unless it’s the release valve causing the problem. Typically, you should have the water tank replaced when it has leaks or cracks. In this situation, you need to enlist the help of a professional. In the meantime, you can shut the water off to make sure the problem doesn’t get worse.
Your Water Doesn’t Get Hot
If your water doesn’t get hot at any point, it’s a red flag that something is awry with your water heater. Before you go hog-wild, check the pilot light to make sure it’s lit. There’s also a chance that you suddenly had an increase in demand for hot water. Either of these scenarios can make it look like your water heater is failing, even if it’s in good condition.
When neither of those situations applies, this could mean that the heating element failed, the thermostat isn’t working, or the dip tube within the tank is broken. All of these are costly fixes, so you may prefer to just replace the entire unit.
Your Water Heater is Old
Like many other components of your home, the water heater has a lifespan. In most cases, this is somewhere between 12 and 15 years. That isn’t to say that you should run out and replace your unit just because it’s in this timeframe. Many high-quality units will last even longer than the given timeframe if they’re properly maintained, so you may want to get an inspection before spending the extra cash.
If you bought an older home or you aren’t sure just how old your water heater is, age is a definite concern. However, other factors play into this decision, such as the quality of the installation and Dover’s water quality. As a general rule, have a professional look at the unit before you decide to pull the trigger and get a new one.
The water heater in your home is a vital aspect that often goes overlooked, especially in comparison to other portions of the house. However, negligence or indifference to your water heater doesn’t have to happen. When you decide it’s time to replace or upgrade your water heater, all you need to do is call the experts at Griffith Energy Services at 888-474-3391. We’ll have you up and running in no time.
Image provided by Shutterstock
