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

Your hot water heater is probably the most underappreciated system in your home. Think about it – without your water heater, you couldn’t have any of these luxuries: 

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

• Hot water, period.

Given the significance of the water heater, do you really know enough about it? We’re here to give you a couple things to think about when it comes to replacing, maintaining, and servicing 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 appliance. If you aren’t sure about the age of your water heater, the date the unit was manufactured will be reflected in the serial number which is located on the label on the water heater tank.

Maturing water heaters are nothing to ignore. A water heater that is ten years or older is at greater risk of getting 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 yearly to avoid any leaks from creating damage in 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 allows the pan to drain outside of your home and minimize the potential of water damage. Each water heater 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 disconnect should be positioned nearby.

If a water heater is “undersized,” especially a gas water heater, the system will breakdown in a shorter time span.

When a gas water heater is regularly emptied of hot water due to heavy hot water use, the gas burner is set off more frequently which can produce heavy condensation on the outside of the tank. The condensation can create more rapid breakdown of the steel tank. Furthermore, the severe heat from the gas burner on the underside of the water heater tank can also cause damage to 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 factor.

The water supply creates pressure for all water heaters, and as water is heated, it expands 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, providing the location will accept the larger size. The larger tank will also supply you more hot water capacity.