{"id":2269,"date":"2026-05-11T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/?p=2269"},"modified":"2026-05-19T12:11:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:11:07","slug":"is-it-time-to-retire-that-old-water-heater-a-modesto-homeowners-may-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/plumbing-service\/is-it-time-to-retire-that-old-water-heater-a-modesto-homeowners-may-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Time to Retire That Old Water Heater? A Modesto Homeowner\u2019s May Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As your trusted local experts, we know how important reliable hot water is to your daily routine. When it comes to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/modesto\/plumbing\"> plumbing in Modesto,<\/a> homeowners often overlook one critical system until it fails\u2014<strong>the water heater<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>May is the perfect time to evaluate whether your current water heater is still serving you well or quietly nearing retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Is-It-Time-to-Retire-That-Old-Water-Heater-A-Modesto-Homeowners-May-Checklist.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Is-It-Time-to-Retire-That-Old-Water-Heater-A-Modesto-Homeowners-May-Checklist.jpg\" alt=\"Is It Time to Retire That Old Water Heater? A Modesto Homeowner\u2019s May Checklist\" class=\"wp-image-2314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Is-It-Time-to-Retire-That-Old-Water-Heater-A-Modesto-Homeowners-May-Checklist.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Is-It-Time-to-Retire-That-Old-Water-Heater-A-Modesto-Homeowners-May-Checklist-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Is-It-Time-to-Retire-That-Old-Water-Heater-A-Modesto-Homeowners-May-Checklist-768x515.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Late Spring Is the Smart Time to Replace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Waiting until your water heater fails in the peak of summer can lead to unnecessary stress, higher demand scheduling, and even emergency costs. Late spring gives you a strategic advantage: flexible appointment times, proactive planning, and the ability to upgrade before your system reaches its seasonal limits. Simply put, replacing now beats reacting later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Old Is Your Water Heater?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Age is one of the most reliable indicators that it\u2019s time for a replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tank water heaters<\/strong> typically last <strong>8\u201312 years.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tankless water heaters<\/strong> can last <strong>15\u201320 years,<\/strong> but still require maintenance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your system is approaching or exceeding these ranges, it\u2019s time to start planning. Even if it seems to be working, internal wear and corrosion could be setting you up for a sudden failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Performance Red Flags You Shouldn\u2019t Ignore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A declining water heater rarely fails without warning. Here are signs your system may be on its way out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Inconsistent water temperature<\/strong> or frequent fluctuations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Running out of hot water faster than usual<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strange noises,<\/strong> such as rumbling or popping from the tank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Discolored or rusty water<\/strong> coming from your taps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Visible leaks<\/strong> or pooling water around the unit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve noticed one or more of these issues, your system is likely struggling to keep up with demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Efficiency Matters More Than Ever<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An aging water heater doesn\u2019t just perform poorly\u2014it costs you more every month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Older systems lose heating efficiency due to sediment buildup<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They require more energy to deliver the same results<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utility bills gradually increase without an obvious explanation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Upgrading to a newer model\u2014especially a high-efficiency tankless system\u2014can significantly reduce your energy usage while improving performance. That means better hot water and better savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your May Water Heater Checklist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a few minutes this month to run through this quick checklist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check the <strong>installation date<\/strong> on your unit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Listen for <strong>unusual noises during operation<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for <strong>signs of rust, corrosion, or leaks<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evaluate whether your <strong>hot water supply<\/strong> meets your household&#8217;s needs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider your recent <strong>energy bills<\/strong>\u2014have they gone up?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If any of these raise concerns, it\u2019s time to take the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plan, Stay Comfortable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At DeHart, we believe homeowners should never have to deal with a surprise cold shower or emergency replacement. By acting in May, you stay in control\u2014choosing the right system, scheduling at your convenience, and ensuring uninterrupted comfort for the months ahead. A timely upgrade now can also increase your home\u2019s value and appeal if you\u2019re considering selling in the near future.<br><br>A proactive upgrade now means peace of mind all summer long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/contact\/send-a-message\"><strong>Contact DeHart Plumbing, Heating, and Air Inc. today to join The Love Club!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>May is the perfect time to evaluate whether your current water heater is still serving you well or quietly nearing retirement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[216,81],"tags":[88,286,36,145],"class_list":["post-2269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-modesto","category-plumbing-service","tag-modesto","tag-old-water-heater","tag-plumbing","tag-water-heaters"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2269"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2269\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2317,"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2269\/revisions\/2317"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dehartinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}