Home > A Step Above Plumbing Blog > Is it Time to Replace Your Leaky Water Heater?

Is it Time to Replace Your Leaky Water Heater? You’ve been dealing with a leaky water heater for a few days now, and you’re wondering if it’s worth repairing or if it’s time to think about replacement. While in some cases, a leaky water heater can be fixed, there are a few factors that can play into the need for replacement.

First, if your water heater is leaking, you need to think about how old it is. Generally speaking, most water heaters need to be replaced after they reach 10 years of age or older. If your water heater is older than this, replacement is probably in your near future.

Second, think about whether your water heater makes rumbling sounds whenever it’s in use. If this happens, sediment has built up in the bottom of your tank, a problem that means that your water heater is less efficient, it’s incurring damage on a regular basis, and it’s probably time for a replacement.

Finally, determine how extensive the water pooling around the base of your water heater is. If there is a small fracture in the tank that releases water, the problem may be fixable. However, if leaks are coming from the connections or the fittings to the tank, you may want to start looking at replacement water heaters.

When we come and help you with your leaky water heater, we’ll consider all of these factors while deciding if we can fix your water heater or not. If your water heater can’t be fixed, we’re also here to help you with the replacement process.