What are the signs I need a new water heater?

The clearest signs are rusty or discolored hot water, running out of hot water faster than you used to, rumbling or popping noises from the tank, water pooling around the base, and an age past about 10 years. Any one of these is worth an inspection; several together usually point to replacement.

Not every symptom means the whole unit is done — a leaking valve or fitting can sometimes be repaired without replacing the tank. The rusty-water and tank-leak signs are the ones that most often mean the unit itself is failing.

Because a failed water heater can dump its whole tank onto your floor, it's smart to have symptoms checked early rather than waiting for a sudden leak.