Don't Take Cold Showers! Get Your Water Heater Replaced
Stubborn homeowners may feel that a failing water heater is something that they can ignore. Some will go so far as to just deal with cold showers. This is a major mistake. Here's what needs to be understood about this problem and why water heater replacement is so necessary.
Failing Water Heaters Can Lead To Cold Showers
When a water heater begins to fail, it shows a variety of serious symptoms. These include noisy operation, rusty or unclear water, and a lack of hot water. The latter problem is particularly a concern for those who use it to wash their clothes, cook, and take showers. Some may decide to just go with it and take cold showers rather than pay the cost of replacing their water heater.
This is a serious mistake. Cold showers are not good for a person's health for a variety of reasons. In fact, a study of what is known as "ice baths" found that cold water bathing could be dangerous to a person's health.
Cold Water Bathing Can Be Extremely Problematic
A study of "ice baths" given out to various athletes found that they caused a variety of health problems. These included impaired consciousness, heart concerns, anaphylactic shock, and even frostbite. These ice baths were literally immersing the body in ice cold water for several minutes. Some of these symptoms showed up in people who were in ice water for as little as two minutes.
While a cold water shower in a home isn't likely to be at the same low temperature as the water used in these tests, it is clear that cold water bathing is not a healthy idea. It's best in this instance to simply bite the bullet and get the water heater replaced.
Costs To Replace A Water Heater
Those who are balking on replacing a water heater are typically concerned with the costs. Estimates show that average water heater replacement costs between $300 to $3,500. The cost here will vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the size of the water heater. The average cost is about $948 for a typical 40-gallon water heater
For some homeowners, this price may seem too high. Thankfully, many plumbers are willing to work with homeowners by offering payment plans. These make it easier for them to install the water heater and to get it paid for quickly and easily. So anyone who is suffering through cold showers should talk to a plumber about water heater installation ASAP and get their water heater replaced.