Your hot water heater is probably the most underestimated system in your home. Think about it – without the water heater, you couldn’t have any of these luxuries:
- Steamy showers
- Hot baths
- Clean dishes
- Disinfected towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the importance of the water heater, do you really know a good amount about it? We’re here to give you a few things to remember 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 commonly last about a decade before you need to look into replacing the water heater. 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 identification tag on the water heater tank.
Aging water heaters are nothing to take lightly. A water heater that is a decade or older is at higher risk of getting a leak and resulting in water damage to your home. If your water heater is in your attic or above the ground floor, the potential for catastrophic damage rises. Make sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to keep any leaks from creating damage in your home.
The most typical failure of residential water heaters that will require replacement is a leaking tank.
It is a good idea 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 lower the possibility of water damage. All water heaters 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 shut off should be placed close by.
If a water heater is “undersized,” especially a gas water heater, the equipment will malfunction in a shorter time span.
When a gas water heater is regularly depleted of hot water due to substantial hot water use, the gas burner discharges more often which can result in heavy condensation on the outside of the tank. The condensation can cause more speedy deterioration of the steel tank. Additionally, the extreme heat from the gas burner on the bottom of the water heater tank can also cause damage to the glass lining on the inside of the tank, which lowers the lifespan of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is an essential replacement factor.
The water supply cause all water heaters to be under pressure, 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, as long as the location will accept the larger size. The 50 gallon tank will also supply you more hot water capacity.