Have you noticed that your water heater’s performance has not seemed as reliable during the cold winter months as it did last summer? Maybe it takes longer for the shower to get hot or you run out of hot water sooner than you used to.
Whatever the symptoms are, many water heater problems first show up in the winter. There are a few things you can do to help your water heater, but it may be a sign that you need to talk to your plumber about a new water heater installation.
If your water heater is located in an unheated space like a garage or basement, you may want to consider adding some insulation, caulking around windows, and weather stripping the doors to help those areas stay a little warmer. Wrapping the water heater in a special water heater insulating blanket will also help reduce heat loss.
If your water heater is located some distance from your bathrooms and kitchen, you can help matters by insulating the hot water lines, especially if they run through unheated areas such as basements, crawlspaces, and attics. You can wrap exposed hot water line with foam pipe insulation available at your local home improvement center.
If none of these suggestions do the trick, have your water heater checked out by a reputable local plumber. You may have other issues such as a failing heating element, a broken dip tube, or an accumulation of rust and sediment in the tank. Your plumber help you decide if it is time for a new water heater.
