It’s a good idea to flush the water heater tank twice a year to eliminate sediment and other nasty buildup. Putting in an inexpensive drip pan below the water heater that drains to the outside of your home can help prevent thousands of dollars in water damage. Age is also a big factor. Many water heater manufacturers estimate the lifespan of these appliances to be 7 to 11 years, so replacing a unit when it is nearing this age can be good insurance policy against unwanted damage. Unfortunately, leaking water heaters result in countless insurance claims each year. If a small leak goes unnoticed – occurring while you are on vacation, for example – the damage can quickly escalate into a major emergency.

By heating water on demand, tankless units can reduce energy use by 24 to 34 percent compared to traditional water heater tanks. Lower Utility Bills Since tankless water heaters use less energy, they can also lower your utility bills.

What to look for:
• Water isn’t heating as you remember.
• There’s rust in water coming from your faucets or on your clothes.
• Your water heater makes cracking and popping sounds when it’s heating. • There’s a metallic taste in your hot water.
• Rust is forming on the outside bottom of your water heater.
• A puddle is forming under your water heater.
• The burner units have become clogged or rusty.
• Anything abnormal with your water.