DO I NEED A NEW HOT WATER HEATER?
The average Life shelf of a residential hot water heater usually has about six years warranty. Some commercial water heaters may carry up to a 10 years warranty. Water heaters will start leaking when they start getting rusty. You may be able to repair a water heater if leaks from the top but if the leak is from the bottom, it will need to be replaced.
Once the corrosion starts to eat away the storage tank there is nothing you can do about it. A new installation is necessary. However, if a heating element burns out or if a pressure-relief valve leaks, you can still repair the unit unless it is no longer under warranty and the technician decides that adding the cost of parts and labor is prohibitive and he will then recommend the purchase a new unit.