Hot Water Heater Repair

To Fix Or Not To Fix: Hot Water Heater Repairs

Your hot water heater is on the fritz. You are trying to decide if you should buy a new one or try an do it yourself  hot water heater repair job. The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy and Renewable Energy's (EERE) Energy Saver tips, estimates that heating water is the third largest energy expense in most homes. The number one and number two spot go to your clothes dryer and your refrigerator. With information like that, it is worth the time and math to decide if a new hot water heater is the way to go or if a repair will suffice.

If the old hot water heater in question is an electric model, the answer is an easy one. Just go ahead and switch it out. Keep in mind that if you switch to a high-efficiency gas hot water heater, you will net a fifty percent energy savings over your old electric hot water heater. That savings starts the second you turn it on. It gets a little tricky deciding whether to repair when your current water heater is gas. Gas hot water heaters can have a lifetime of twenty five or more years. However, they can be running at a reduced efficiency for many years will out little warning. Typically the only sign your gas water heater isn't running as efficient is a rising energy bill because of an increase in gas use.

If you do think that your hot water heater is suffering from some energy loss, you will need to decide if it is worth repairing or not. For this answer, you will need to call in a certified hot water heater repair person, because only they can tell if it is an easy fix. In most cases, if your hot water heater is more than ten years old than it is probably working at an efficiency level of fifty percent or even less. That means it is time to skip the repair and go for a new unit.

When you finally make your decision of whether to fix or not fix that hot water heater, you then get to decide what kind of hot water heater you will go with. If a hot water heater repair job is not in your future and a new unit is, you might consider going with a tankless hot water heater. These units heat water only when you need it and eliminate the need for the big tank in your basement. As for energy efficiency, the EERE's Consumer Guide estimates an energy savings cost of thirty percent when compared to the conventional systems. Of course, there is always the option to build your own solar powered water heater.