A tank water heater in Overland Park usually lasts 8 to 12 years. Tankless units can go nearly twice that. Where yours lands depends on water hardness, household size, and whether anyone has ever drained the tank.
These are the warning signs we tell homeowners to watch for:
- Hot water runs out sooner than it used to
- The faucet takes longer to warm up
- Rusty or cloudy water comes from the hot side only
- Popping or rumbling noises while the burner or elements are running
- Water pooling around the base of the tank
- A pilot that won't stay lit, or a breaker that keeps tripping on an electric unit
Not every puddle means the heater is finished. Sometimes it's a loose fitting, a dripping relief valve, or one of the leaking pipes that feed the tank. That's a repair. A leak from the tank body is a different story. Once the steel inside rusts through, there's nothing to patch.
Before we recommend replacement, we look at the age of the unit, how often you've paid for repairs, whether it keeps up with your family's hot water use, and what a more efficient model would save on monthly energy bills.