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My water heater is not working; should I repair it or replace it? |
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General FAQs
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If it is a small item such as a relief valve I recommend a repair but if the water heater is over 10 years old you should consider replacing it. Water heaters accumulate mineral deposits at the bottom which greatly reduces the efficiency by needing to heat through the large deposit of rock hard minerals. This deposit also reduces capacity by consuming space in the tank; i.e. a 50 gallon water heater may only have 40 gallons of capacity due to a rock hard build up of minerals at the bottom. The cost of the replacement most likely will be substantiated by regaining efficiency, capacity and the security of knowing that you have a new warranty. Older water heaters were warranted for 5 years. A water heater usually lasts between 7 to 15 years.
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