Should You Repair or Replace a Struggling Water Heater?

Petri Plumbing Can End the Cold Showers

A warm shower can be just the thing to beat the Brooklyn winter blues, but if your water heater is struggling, you might be shivering instead of steaming. A water heater that won’t heat, is slow to heat, or runs out of hot water too fast is an annoyance at best, a plumbing emergency at worst.

If you suspect your water heater might be struggling to keep up, the Brooklyn plumbers at Petri Plumbing & Heating can help. We can repair your heater and get you back up and running quickly, or we can recommend and install a replacement if needed.

But how can you tell if you’re likely to get a repair bill or a replacement estimate?

Some water heater problems are easy to fix. For example, a water heater that runs out of hot water too fast might need to be flushed to remove sediment built up at the bottom of the unit. A broken dip tube could be the culprit if water is tepid. There could be a problem in the heating system like a faulty switch, thermostat or heating element.

In general, a struggling hot water heater should be replaced if:

• It’s more than 10 years old.
• It is six years old but out of warranty.
• The heater has a faulty pilot assembly.
• It has been damaged by flooding.

You can extend the life of your water heater by scheduling regular maintenance by a licensed professional and by flushing sediment out of the unit once per year.

Don’t despair if the recommendation is to replace your water heater, though. There is a cost involved up front, but modern water heaters are much more efficient than heaters from 10 years ago. You can also choose a tankless water heater and save a bundle on energy bills while enjoying on-demand hot water.

At Petri Plumbing & Heating, we are experts with most types of hot water heaters, including indirect, traditional and tankless water heaters. If you suspect that your water heater is struggling to keep up, contact us today at (718) 748-1254 to schedule a service call. Our service experts will diagnose your ailing heater and give you the best recommendation to either repair or replace.