Is Your Water Heater Doing Its Job?

Written on: September 25, 2023

Take a moment to think about how much your water heater does for your North Shore-area home. You rely on it for warm and hot water for bathing, cooking, laundry, washing dishes, washing hands, and more. Water heating accounts for a significant percentage of your home’s energy costs. In fact, for the average home, heating water is responsible for up to 30% of the home’s energy costs.

With the winter season just around the corner, your water heater is going to have to work even harder. That’s because it’s in a colder environment, the water it needs to heat is starting off colder, and your household is probably using more hot water.

Given the large impact heating water has on your energy bills each month, it’s extremely important to have a water heater that’s as efficient as possible. Otherwise, you’ll be losing money and energy due to lower efficiency.

The best way to keep your water heater running at peak efficiency is to have it receive regular professional maintenance. Just one annual maintenance visit for your water heater will save you money all year long.

Lombardi Energy Services offers a water heater service plan as an add-on to our other service plans. Our water heater service plan includes an annual tune-up and 15% off parts and labor costs (other than a system replacement).

Is Your Water Heater Working Properly?

Don’t wait until your water heater breaks down to replace it. When a water heater fails, it can cause thousands of dollars in water damage. Additionally, you’ll be without hot water until your new water heater is installed. You can save yourself a lot of stress and expense by keeping an eye on your water heater and making sure it’s doing its job properly. If it isn’t, call the experts at Lombardi Energy Services. If you’re in need of water heater repair or water heater maintenance, we’ll help you out. And if it turns out you need a new water heater, we can take care of that for you as well.

Fortunately, water heater breakdowns don’t usually happen without any warning. There are usually some clear signs of trouble. Here are five signs your water heater probably isn’t doing its job and needs professional care:

1. An energy bill increase. If there’s an increase in your energy bills that can’t be explained by an increase in fuel prices or an increase in your hot water usage, then your water heater may be to blame. Water heaters lose efficiency as they get older. Upgrading to a new highly efficient water heater could save you a lot of money over time.
2. Leaks or rusty water. If you notice puddles under your tank or if it starts producing rusty water, that’s a sign of corrosion. This problem is particularly common with steel tanks. Leaks and rust are not problems you should ignore. They’re both signs that your water tank is probably very close to breaking down completely.
3. Hard water stains. Hard water stains show up as white marks on your silverware and glassware after they’ve gone through the dishwasher. Having hard water usually means there is a lime buildup in your tank. A lime buildup in your tank can decrease your water heater’s efficiency and shorten its lifespan.
4. Weird noises. If you hear growling or gurgling sounds coming from your storage tank, it’s probably due to a build-up of sediment in the tank. This is not a problem you should ignore because ignoring it for too long will lead to serious problems that require expensive repairs or premature replacement.
5. Your water heater’s age. A well-maintained water heater should last approximately 10 years. Once it reaches that age, even if your water heater isn’t showing any signs of trouble, it is still a good idea to replace it. Your new water heater will run more efficiently and reliably—saving you money on your energy bills.

Delivering Comfort

Lombardi Energy Services delivers comfort to our customers in Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Whether you need a new water heater or simply want the water heater you already have maintained or repaired so it’s running optimally, we’re here to help.

Contact Lombardi Energy Services today for reliable and friendly service.