When Should You Replace Your Water Heater?

DF water heater

Broken water heater element. D&F Plumbing, Heating and Cooling serving Vancouver WA and Portland OR talks about when should you replace your water heater.Are your showers the temperature of that nasty lukewarm cup of tea you never finished? That could be a sign you need to replace your water heater. We can help — spend tea time chatting with us about when you should replace your water heater.

Is Your Water Heater Aging Out?

How long is a water heater even supposed to last? Well, that depends on whether it’s gas or electric. Electric water heaters usually last 8-10 years, whereas gas water heaters last about 6-8 years. They don’t, however, always last this long. And on some occasions, they will even surpass this timeline. In fact, we replaced one electric water heater that lasted 40 years! Check out the whole story here.

Is Your Water Bill Rising?

Hot water is an absolute necessity. From doing your dishes and laundry, to cooking and washing your hands, water is used everywhere. Sadly, hot water isn’t free.

If your water heater is declining in health, you’ll be declining in wealth. A water heater becoming inefficient can cost a lot of money. It will often cost more to use a run down water heater than just replacing it.

Is Your Water Rusty?

Rusty or tinted water could mean a couple things are going on with your plumbing. However, if it’s only coming out of your hot water side, it definitely has to do with your water heater. 

It’s time to clear up the waters. Let’s do a little test to help you find out what’s really going on. Fill a bucket with water 3 times. If by the end of the third bucket your water still looks rusty, then your water heater likely needs replacing.

Strange Noises Coming From Your Heater

Do you hear strange clanging sounds coming from your water heater? Some ticking or tapping sounds are normal, but if you notice they start to sound different, you may have a problem. 

As the heater is used, sediment will get heated, reheated, and will eventually harden. This causes strange sounds, which usually means your heater is at the end of its life. Having a layer of hardened sediment can cause less efficiency. The heater will have to work harder and it can cause small holes or cracks. This generally results in leaks, which could eventually cost more than just replacing the heater.

Age, money, rust, noises, who knew it all had so much to do with enjoying a cozy shower? Save time and money by calling the Plumbers in Plaid to help you diagnose your water heater.

How to Fix a Running Toilet

D F how to fix a running toilet 2

Cartoon of a toilet running. D&F Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, serving Portland OR & Vancouver WA talks about how to fix a running toilet. Is your toilet running?
Better catch it!

Ba dum tss!

Okay, okay, now that we’ve got that dad joke out of our system, it’s time to talk about running toilets. You know, the kind that continue to make a sound long after you’ve flushed it.

Running toilets are one of the most common plumbing problems homeowners face. But you don’t have to deal with them forever. Here are some suggestions we at D&F Plumbing, Heating and Cooling have created to help fix your running toilet.

Check the Flapper

In a normal working toilet, pushing the toilet lever down will cause the flapper to lift so that clean water can fill the toilet blow. Once the flapper returns, it creates a seal, preventing more water from entering the bowl. With wear and tear however, the flapper may lose its integrity and cause water to seep through. An improperly sized flapper can also let water through, resulting in constant running.

Check the Flapper Chain

If you’ve determined the flapper isn’t the cause of your running toilet, the flapper chain may be the culprit. The flapper chain has one end attached to the flapper and another attached to the handle arm and it must be appropriately sized. If the chain is too short the flapper cannot form a seal and if the chain is too long, the flapper cannot open and shut properly. It may even block the flapper from sealing. A professional plumber can measure your toilet and ensure your flapper chain is the proper length.

Check the Toilet Handle

If the first two components are working just fine, you could be dealing with a damaged toilet handle. Toilet handles are used pretty frequently so over time they may wear down, corrode, or even stay in the down position, causing the toilet to run continuously.

Is Your Toilet Running?

Running toilets are not just a nuisance. They can cause gallons of wasted water and high energy bills. Save your money and conserve your water by contacting the professionals at D&F Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. From running toilets to whole home repiping, our team can diagnose and repair any plumbing problem.