Your hot water heater is probably the most underrated machine in your home. Really – without your water heater, you wouldn’t have any of the following:
- Warm showers
- Toasty baths
- Sanitized dishes
- Clean towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the power of the water heater, do you truly know much about it? We’re here to provide some things to remember when it comes to servicing, maintaining, and replacing your water heater.
The average lifespan of residential water heaters is about ten to twelve years.
Natural gas and electric water heaters will typically last about a decade before you need to look into replacing the water heater. If you are not sure about the age of your water heater, the date the equipment was manufactured will be shown in the serial number which can be found on the label on the water heater tank.
Aging water heaters are nothing to ignore. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at greater risk of producing a leak and causing water damage to your home. If your water heater is in your attic or above the first floor, the chance of catastrophic damage rises. Always have your water heater maintenance yearly to prevent any leaks from causing damage to your home.
The most usual failure of residential water heaters that will entail replacement is a leaking tank.
It is best to have your installer place the water heater in a drain pan with piping that enables the pan to drain outside of your home and minimize the possibility of water damage. All water heaters should have a functional and obtainable turn-off valve on the inlet water supply to the tank, and a ball-type valve on the gas supply. For electric water heaters, an electrical disconnect should be positioned nearby.
If a water heater is “undersized,” especially a gas water heater, the tank will breakdown in a shorter time span.
When a gas water heater is regularly depleted of hot water due to significant hot water use, the gas burner is set off more frequently which can create heavy condensation on the tank exterior. The condensation can produce more speedy decomposition of the steel tank. Additionally, the severe heat from the gas burner on the base of the water heater tank can also cause damage to the glass lining on the inside of the tank, which lowers the life expectancy of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is an important replacement factor.
The water supply cause all water heaters to be under pressure, and as water is heated, it grows creating even more pressure. When contemplating replacing a water heater, it’s usually better to go with a sizable 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, presuming the location will accommodate the larger size. The larger tank will also supply you more hot water capacity.