Things to Keep in Mind When It Comes to Your Water Heater 

The water heater is probably the most underrated system in your home. Seriously – without a water heater, you wouldn’t have any of the following: 

• Steamy showers
• Hot baths
• Clean dishes
• Clean towels and sheets

• Hot water, period.

Given the power of the water heater, do you really know a good amount about it? We’re here with a couple things to remember when it comes to servicing, maintaining, and replacing your water heater.

The usual lifespan of residential water heaters is 10-12 years.

Natural gas and electric water heaters will typically last about a decade before you need to think about replacing the system. If you are not sure what age your water heater is, the date the system was manufactured will be shown in the serial number which you can find on the label on the water heater tank.

Maturing water heaters are nothing to ignore. A water heater that is a decade or older is at higher risk of springing a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater is in your attic or above the ground floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage rises. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to prevent any leaks from creating damage in your home.

The most typical malfunction of residential water heaters that will require replacement is a leaking tank.

It is highly recommended to have your plumbing expert install the water heater in a drain pan with piping that lets the pan to drain outside of your home and lower the probability of water damage. Every water heater should have a working and accessible 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 switch off should be located within reach.

If a water heater is “undersized,” particularly a gas water heater, the tank will fail in a shorter period of time.

When a gas water heater is routinely drained of hot water due to significant hot water utilization, the gas burner fires more frequently which can create heavy condensation on the tank exterior. The condensation can produce more expeditious decomposition of the steel tank. Furthermore, the extreme heat from the gas burner on the bottom of the water heater tank can also deteriorate the glass lining on the inner section of the tank, which lowers the life cycle of the water heater.

Water Heater sizing is a significant replacement consideration.

The water supply cause all water heaters to be under pressure, and as water is heated, it extends creating even more pressure. When thinking about replacing a water heater, it’s typically better to go with a larger 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, presuming the location will fit the larger size. The larger tank will also provide you more hot water capacity.