The water heater is probably the most underrated appliance in your home. Really – without a water heater, you wouldn’t have any of the following:
- Warm showers
- Toasty baths
- Sanitized dishes
- Disinfected towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the significance of the water heater, do you actually know a good amount about it? We’re here to provide a few things to keep in mind 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 consider replacing the water heater. If you are not sure what age your water heater is, the date the equipment was manufactured will be shown in the serial number which can be found on the ID sticker on the water heater tank.
Older water heaters are nothing to ignore. A water heater that is a decade or older is at higher risk of producing a leak and causing water damage to your home. If your water heater is positioned in your attic or above the first floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage goes up. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance every year to keep any leaks from damaging your home.
The most usual breakdown of residential water heaters that will entail replacement is a leaking tank.
It is best to have your plumber install the water heater in a drain pan with piping that enables the pan to drain to the outside of your home and decrease the potential of water damage. All water heaters should have a operational and reachable 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 switch off should be placed close by.
If a water heater is “undersized,” in particular a gas water heater, the tank will malfunction in a shorter amount of time.
When a gas water heater is consistently emptied of hot water due to heavy hot water use, the gas burner fires repeatedly which can result in heavy condensation on the outside of the tank. The condensation can create more rapid breakdown of the steel tank. Furthermore, the exceptional heat from the gas burner on the base 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 factor.
The water supply creates pressure for all water heaters, and as water is heated, it grows creating even more pressure. When contemplating replacing a water heater, it’s typically better to go with a sizable 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, presuming the location will accept the larger size. The 50 gallon tank will also give you more hot water capacity.