Universal Plumbing | Water Heater Repair/Replace


		You Have an Option, Repair or Replace

Water Heaters | Install | Repair/Replace | Enhancements

Provided there isn’t a tank failure, typically a water heater can be repaired, but is it worth repairing? Only after answering the following questions should you answer repair or replace. Do you know how many years old your water heater is? Do you know how many years it’s rated for? Consider replacing your water heater instead of repairing it if its age is close to the number of years it was rated for.

Water heater failures cause millions of dollars in water damages every year. Remember when selecting your new water heater that you get what you pay for. While a seemingly bargain water heater rated for 7 years saves you money today, it is much more likely to fail sooner. Look at the cost per rated year to make an educated choice. Simply divide the cost of the water heater by the number of years it is rated for and that will show you which is the best value.

Repair / Replace Self Test
To take the self test simply add the score from all the questions below. A total of 1-5 indicates repair, 10-15 recommends replacement. A score of 5-10 is determined by additional factors such as Growing Family Need, Guarantees, Energy Savings, Peace of Mind and Future Repair Costs.

Age of the Water Heater

Years	1-4	5-8	9-13	14+
Score	0	4	8	10

How often do you run out of hot water

Freq.	Seldom	Sometimes	Often	Always
Score	1	2	3	10

How long will you live in the home

Years	1-3	4-6	7-9	10+
Score	1	2	3	4

Current cost of repair

Dollars	0-$99	$100-$199	$200-$269	$270+
Score	1	2	3	4

Rust Corrosion

Freq.	Light	Moderate	Extreme
Score	1	2	3

For more information on choosing between repairing or replacing, contact a Universal Plumbing sales representative.