Your water heater is probably the most underrated appliance in your home. Seriously – without a water heater, you don’t have any of the following:
- Warm showers
- Warm baths
- Clean dishes
- Disinfected towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the significance of the water heater, do you truly know much about it? We’re here with a couple things to keep in mind when it comes to replacing, maintaining, and servicing your water heater.
The average lifespan of residential water heaters is between ten and twelve years.
Natural gas and electric water heaters will commonly last about a decade before you need to look into replacing the system. If you are unsure how old your water heater is, the date the equipment was manufactured will be displayed in the serial number which is located on the label on the water heater tank.
Aging water heaters are nothing to take lightly. A water heater that is ten years or older is at higher risk of getting a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater is positioned in your attic or above the bottom floor, the chance of catastrophic damage increases. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to prevent any leaks from creating damage in your home.
The most common failure of residential water heaters that will entail replacement is a leaking tank.
It is a good idea to have your installer place the water heater in a drain pan with piping that lets the pan to drain to the outside of your home and lower the potential of water damage. All water heaters should have a operational and obtainable cut-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 cut off should be positioned nearby.
If a water heater is “undersized,” especially a gas water heater, the equipment will malfunction in a shorter amount of time.
When a gas water heater is routinely emptied of hot water due to significant hot water use, the gas burner is set off more often which can result in heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can result in more expeditious decomposition of the steel tank. Additionally, the exceptional heat from the gas burner on the underside of the water heater tank can also deteriorate the glass lining on the interior of the tank, which lowers the life expectancy of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is a significant replacement issue.
The water supply cause all water heaters to be under pressure, and as water is heated, it extends creating even more pressure. When contemplating replacing a water heater, it’s usually better to go with a larger 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, providing the location will fit the larger size. The 50 gallon tank will also supply you more hot water capacity.