The water heater is probably the most underappreciated appliance in your home. Really – without your water heater, you wouldn’t have any of the following:
- Steamy showers
- Warm baths
- Clean dishes
- Sanitized towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the importance of the water heater, do you actually know much about it? We’re here with a couple things to keep in mind when it comes to servicing, maintaining, and replacing your water heater.
The usual 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 system. 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.
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 leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater is in your attic or above the ground floor, the chance of catastrophic damage goes up. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance every year to prevent any leaks from damaging your home.
The most usual malfunction 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 to the outside of your home and lower the potential of water damage. All water heaters should have a operational 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 disconnect should be located within reach.
If a water heater is “undersized,” particularly a gas water heater, the equipment will breakdown 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 repeatedly which can result in heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can produce more speedy deterioration of the steel tank. Also, the exceptional 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 decreases the life expectancy of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is a significant replacement factor.
All water heaters are under pressure from the water supply, and as water is heated, it extends creating even more pressure. When thinking about replacing a water heater, it’s typically 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 larger tank will also provide you more hot water capacity.