5 Signs It's Time to Replace Your Water Heater (Before It Floods)

Now: water weeping from the tank body (not a fitting) — tank corrosion is through the wall and failure is a matter of time; and any leak in a finished basement or above living space. Soon: rusty hot water, rumbling/popping on heat-up, recovery getting slower, and the ten-year birthday. "Soon" is the golden window: you choose the replacement calmly, compare options, and schedule it — instead of taking whatever's on a truck at 7 AM after a cold shower and a wet floor.

Like-for-like (same fuel, same size) is fastest and usually most economical. It's also the natural moment to fix what bugged you: upsize for a household that outgrew the tank, move to a higher-efficiency model, or add a drain pan and leak detection — cheap insurance in finished basements. Fuel switching (gas↔electric) is possible but adds venting or electrical scope; it's a planned decision, not an emergency-day one. One scope note: we install and service tank water heaters.

A few hours for a straightforward swap: drain and remove the old tank, set the new one, connect water (and gas with leak-check, or electrical), verify the temperature-and-pressure relief valve and discharge pipe, set temperature to 120°F, and haul the old unit away. Local plumbing codes govern relief-valve discharge, seismic strapping where applicable, and permits — handled as part of the job, not left to you.