Translating…
All homes need to have hot water, and your water heater is what makes it happen. Different water heaters can run on a variety of fuels including electricity, natural gas, propane, or sometimes even solar. In addition to having different power sources, there are also different types: ones that hold heated water or tankless heaters. Unfortunately, what they all have in common is the fact that they will eventually require some degree of maintenance and eventual replacement.
At present, most homes are equipped with conventional water heaters that hold heated water. Replacement is inevitable at some point mainly due to rust and / or sediment building up inside the tank with a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Tankless designs will last considerably longer, up to 25 years, but will still need to be replaced eventually. Here are some signs that your water heater requires repairs or replacement.
One tell-tale sign to watch out for is discolored water, usually ranging somewhere between yellow and brownish-red. The cause of this problem is usually due to a buildup of scale or rust inside the tank.
Another symptom that should raise some red flags is when you frequently find your home is “running out of hot water”. This is most likely due to excess sediment buildup inside the water tank that is robbing you of its original capacity, but as long as everything else is functioning correctly a certified plumber can help you clean it out and you will be back in business.
A slight variant of the previous problem is not having any hot water at all, or having just warm water. This might be caused by a defective heating element or thermostat or simply a leaking dip tube. A dip tube is a small plastic tube designed to let cold water flow to the bottom of the tank. If it’s damaged, the cold and hot water will mix which results in warm water. If that is the case, it can be easily resolved by simply replacing the dip tube.
If your water heater is leaking then that may potentially require replacement as well. This should be rather self-explanatory and a pool of water around your unit probably does not require an expert to diagnose, but will most likely call for either a major repair or a complete replacement.
Finally, you need to take the age of your water heater into consideration. While there may not be anything wrong at all at the moment, you may want to consider replacing a unit that is more than 10 years old since older models may not last much longer anyway and are not worth spending money on repairs. You are probably better off just putting any potential repair funds towards a brand new unit.
As long as you keep an eye out for the above warning signs and are quick to have the issue checked out in a timely manner you should be able to enjoy many continuous years of trouble-free hot water. Fortunately, even in the worst case scenario that your water heater needs to be replaced you can rest assured that a certified professional plumber can have it done within a matter of hours.