Your water heater is probably the most underrated machine in your home. Really – without your water heater, you couldn’t have any of the following:
- Steamy showers
- Toasty baths
- Clean dishes
- Disinfected towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the significance of the water heater, do you really know enough about it? We’re here to provide some things to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining, servicing, 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 appliance. If you aren’t sure how old your water heater is, the date the unit was manufactured will be displayed in the serial number which is located on the identification tag on the water heater tank.
Older water heaters are nothing to ignore. A water heater that is ten years or older is at more risk of producing a leak and causing water damage to your home. If your water heater is in your attic or above the bottom floor, the potential for catastrophic damage increases. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to avoid any leaks from damaging your home.
The most typical breakdown of residential water heaters that will need 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 your home and decrease the possibility of water damage. Each water heater should have a working 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,” particularly a gas water heater, the equipment will malfunction in a shorter time span.
When a gas water heater is consistently depleted of hot water due to heavy hot water utilization, the gas burner fires more frequently which can result in heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can produce more speedy decomposition of the steel tank. Furthermore, the extreme 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 life expectancy 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 grows creating even more pressure. When thinking about replacing a water heater, it’s usually better to go with a bigger 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, providing the location will fit the larger size. The bigger tank will also supply you more hot water capacity.