Reducing Your Plumbing Repair and Maintenance CostsReducing Your Plumbing Repair and Maintenance Costs

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Reducing Your Plumbing Repair and Maintenance Costs

Working with plumbers is a necessity as a homeowner, whether for regular maintenance purposes or to make a repair when needed. But you do have some control over how much reliance you’ll have for plumber services over the years. For example, having your plumber weatherize your exposed pipes during a maintenance appointment can save you literally hundreds of dollars on repairs throughout the winter months. Finding ways to decrease your water usage is another great way to avoid the need for costly plumbing repairs because you’ll put less wear and tear on the plumbing system overall. On this website, you can expect to learn more about protecting your plumbing and keeping your maintenance and repair expenses down.

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3 Factors To Consider When Deciding To Repair Or Replace Your Hot Water Heater

3 March 2017
 Categories: , Blog

When a hot water heater starts acting up and is not producing hot water, you may wonder whether you should have it repaired or replaced. This is a good question, and a plumber might have the right answer for you and your situation. A plumber will typically base this decision on the following three factors, and it will take a careful examination of the unit before the plumber can recommend to you what you should do.

The Work It Needs

One of the first things a plumber will look at is the problem. Hot water heaters can have a variety of different issues that will prevent them from making hot water or storing it properly, and finding out what the problem is will help the plumber know what your options are. In some cases, fixing a hot water heater might be as simple as replacing or tightening a nut or bolt. There are also times, though, when repairing a hot water heater is simply too much work or too costly.

The Age Of The Device

A typical gas hot water heater is only designed to last for six to eight years, whereas an electric one may last slightly longer. When the plumber arrives to examine your hot water heater, this is a question he or she will ask. If your hot water heater is relatively new, fixing it is probably the best option. If it is six years old or older, replacing it is probably the best choice. If it is less than six years old, the plumber will determine how much work it needs and will tell you your options.

The Efficiency A Homeowner Would Like

The other important factor to think about is efficiency. Older units are never as efficient as the newer ones you can buy. A plumber will be able to tell you how much money you could save approximately by upgrading to a new one. If a new one will help you reduce your gas or electric expenses by a decent amount, upgrading might be worthwhile even if your hot water heater is not extremely old or worn out.

When a plumber comes to your home to examine your hot water heater, he or she is likely to factor in these three things when recommending whether you should fix it or replace it. Ultimately, the choice is yours though. If you are experiencing problems with your hot water heater, contact a plumber quickly. For more information, click here, or on other similar sites.