Four Things You Should Consider Before a Hot Water System Replacement

Four Things You Should Consider Before a Hot Water System Replacement

Whether you’re upgrading or downgrading, or it’s reached the time to say goodbye, a hot water system replacement is something we all go through at least once in our lives.

Replacing a hot water system can be a costly exercise, though, so it’s worth doing your research first.

Some things to consider are:

We’ll unpack all of these questions to help you figure out the best way forward.

What Are the Signs of Something Being Wrong With Hot Water Systems?

If your hot water system has been doing a particular thing for as long as you remember, it doesn’t mean it’s “normal.” However, knowing what the signs are when something’s wrong with your hot water system will help you identify when it’s time for a plumbing service or an emergency plumbing replacement.

1. Is Your Water Hot Enough For Long Enough?

With age, a hot water heater or heat pump will deteriorate. If your hot water service used to heat water enough for your whole family to shower before school and work in the morning, but now the last person in line gets a rude awakening, it could mean it’s time for an upgrade.

Or, you might notice that your hot water system or heat pump isn’t producing as piping hot water supply as it used to. As a result, it could take much longer for your hot water tap to reach from warm to hot – or not even heat up at all.

Is Your Hot Water Unit Making Funny Noises?

Hot water systems emit sounds as they heat up the water, but keep an ear out for anything unusual.

Noises that need attention include:

Is Your Hot Water System Releasing Discoloured Water?

Luckily, any changes in water colour are easily recognisable. For example, hot water systems or a heat pump with corrosion, a build-up of sediment, or rust in the pipes or storage tank will release red, brown or rust-coloured water.

Is Your Hot Water Heater Leaking?

Leaking hot water systems can be problematic if unresolved because a continuous flow of water can lead to even more headaches like walls, cabinets and floors with water damage.

Leaks can come from:

(See our blog that breakdowns why your hot water system may be leaking )

2. How Old Is Your Hot Water System?

Generally, hot water systems live to a grand age of 12 years old. However, if they’re well looked after and maintained and not overused, they could even live to see 15.

If your hot water system is nearing that age, it’s worth starting to look for a replacement and making financial arrangements to do so. Instead, be prepared for the day it gives in rather than it being an emergency.

3. What Hot Water System Replacement Will Best Suit Your Needs?

Replacing your current water heater system with a newer version of precisely the same type is the most cost-effective option.

But, just because your existing hot water system has been there forever and you haven’t had any problems with it, it doesn’t mean that replacing it with the same thing is your best choice,

Your family may have split the showering up between morning and night to ensure everyone gets hot water, but that needn’t be the case – you can buy a bigger storage tank. Or, you could consider no tank at all with an instant water heater.

On the other hand, if all your kids have left the nest and it’s just nan and grandpa at home these days, it’s worth scaling down to one of the smaller hot water systems to save money.

4. What Are the Hot Water Replacement Installation Costs?

Besides the cost of the new hot water heater itself, there’s also the price of the h ot water installation to consider.

The installation of different hot water systems will require different things, meaning there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Things that can affect the installation costs of different hot water systems include:

(See our more in-depth look at hot water system installation costs !)

Why You Should Speak to a Hot Water Specialist First

Before you go ahead with your hot water replacement, you should first have a plumber come and assess your hot water heater.

If your hot water system isn’t that old, but it’s showing signs that something’s wrong, it might just need some plumbing maintenance rather than needing to replace the entire unit.

Furthermore, a hot water & gas plumber can give professional advice regarding hot water heaters and could advise whether you should upgrade, downgrade or just replace them.

They can recommend which of the range of hot water heaters could be the best to suit you and your household needs depending on your hot water usage and shed light on the running costs.

At Bayside Plumbing, we offer reliable hot water plumbers who deliver same day plumbing service . So whether you’re looking to save money on electricity bills, be more energy-efficient and use natural gas, or just find the right hot water system for your home, our efficient plumbing professional service is exactly what you need.

Key Takeaways

Even if you’re used to standing in a towel with goosebumps, waiting for your hot water tank to heat up – replacing your hot water system will mean you no longer have to do that.

If your hot water system is over 12 years old, it’s probably time for a replacement.

Other signs to look out for indicating that something’s wrong include:

Before choosing a new hot water heater system, discuss your concerns with someone in the plumbing industry and have them do an assessment. Not only will they advise whether your hot water heater needs maintenance or replacement, but a professional plumber can also help you decide which hot water replacement will be best for you.

If customers would like to get in touch with one of our friendly plumbing sales team, us at Bayside Plumbing today.

(Please see our dedicated plumbing blog that offers other valuable hot water plumbing tips & insights!)

Disclaimer:

Please note that all information provided on this page is general in nature. We strive to provide accurate and reliable information at the time of publishing. However, this should not be interpreted as advice as it’s general in nature. You should seek a professional opinion to ensure that the information is suited to your situation.