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

Your hot water heater is probably the most underappreciated machine in your home. Seriously – without a water heater, you couldn’t have any of these luxuries: 

• Steamy showers
• Toasty baths
• Sanitized dishes
• Sanitized towels and sheets

• Hot water, period.

Given the power of the water heater, do you truly know enough about it? We’re here to give you a couple things to keep in mind when it comes to servicing, maintaining, and replacing your water heater.

The usual lifespan of residential water heaters is between ten and twelve years.

Natural gas and electric water heaters will usually last about a decade before you need to look into replacing the system. If you are unsure about the age of your water heater, the date the equipment was manufactured will be reflected in the serial number which is located on the identification tag on the water heater tank.

Older water heaters are nothing to take lightly. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at more risk of producing a leak and causing water damage to your home. If your water heater sits in your attic or above the ground floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage goes up. Always have your water heater maintenance annually to prevent any leaks from causing damage to your home.

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

It is highly recommended to have your installer place the water heater in a drain pan with piping that allows the pan to drain outside of your home and minimize the possibility of water damage. Each water heater should have a working 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 switch off should be placed within reach.

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

When a gas water heater is regularly depleted of hot water due to substantial hot water utilization, the gas burner fires more frequently which can create heavy condensation on the tank exterior. The condensation can result in more speedy decomposition of the steel tank. Also, the severe heat from the gas burner on the base of the water heater tank can also take its toll on the glass lining on the inner section of the tank, which reduces the lifespan of the water heater.

Water Heater sizing is a significant replacement issue.

The water supply creates pressure for all water heaters, and as water is heated, it extends creating even more pressure. When contemplating replacing a water heater, it’s typically better to go with a bigger 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, as long as the location will accommodate the larger size. The 50 gallon tank will also provide you more hot water capacity.