Your hot water heater is probably the most underrated machine in your home. Really – without your water heater, you don’t have any of these perks:
- Hot showers
- Hot baths
- Clean dishes
- Sanitized towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the significance of the water heater, do you truly know enough about it? We’re here with a couple things to keep in mind when it comes to replacing, maintaining, and servicing your water heater.
The average 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 water heater. If you are unsure how old your water heater is, the date the equipment was manufactured will be shown in the serial number which you can find on the identification tag on the water heater tank.
Aging water heaters are nothing to mess around with. 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 sits in your attic or above the first floor, the chance of catastrophic damage goes up. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to avoid any leaks from causing damage to your home.
The most usual failure of residential water heaters that will need replacement is a leaking tank.
It is a good idea to have your plumbing expert install the water heater in a drain pan with piping that enables the pan to drain outside your home and lower the potential of water damage. Every water heater should have a functional and reachable 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 within reach.
If a water heater is “undersized,” in particular a gas water heater, the tank will breakdown in a shorter amount of time.
When a gas water heater is regularly emptied of hot water due to substantial hot water use, the gas burner discharges more often which can result in heavy condensation on the tank exterior. The condensation can produce more rapid deterioration of the steel tank. Also, the severe heat from the gas burner on the underside of the water heater tank can also take its toll on the glass lining on the interior of the tank, which decreases the life cycle of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is an essential replacement factor.
The water supply creates pressure for all water heaters, and as water is heated, it grows creating even more pressure. When considering replacement of a water heater, it’s typically better to go with a bigger 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, presuming the location will accommodate the larger size. The 50 gallon tank will also give you more hot water capacity.