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 a water heater, you wouldn’t have any of these perks: 

• Warm showers
• Toasty baths
• Clean dishes
• Clean towels and sheets

• Hot water, period.

Given the importance of the water heater, do you truly know enough about it? We’re here with a couple things to think about when it comes to replacing, maintaining, and servicing your water heater.

The typical 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 water heater. If you aren’t sure what age your water heater is, the date the system was manufactured will be displayed in the serial number which can be found on the identification tag on the water heater tank.

Older water heaters are nothing to mess around with. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at more risk of producing a leak and causing water damage to your home. If your water heater is positioned in your attic or above the first floor, the potential for catastrophic damage rises. Make sure you have your water heater maintenance every year to prevent any leaks from causing damage to your home.

The most usual failure of residential water heaters that will entail replacement is a leaking tank.

It is best to have your plumber install the water heater in a drain pan with piping that lets the pan to drain to the outside of your home and lower 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 disconnect should be positioned close by.

If a water heater is “undersized,” particularly a gas water heater, the tank will fail in a shorter time span.

When a gas water heater is routinely depleted of hot water due to significant hot water usage, the gas burner discharges repeatedly which can create heavy condensation on the outside of the tank. The condensation can result in more expeditious deterioration of the steel tank. Additionally, the extreme heat from the gas burner on the underside of the water heater tank can also deteriorate the glass lining on the inner section of the tank, which reduces the lifespan of the water heater.

Water Heater sizing is a crucial replacement issue.

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 typically better to go with a bigger 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, providing the location will accept the larger size. The bigger tank will also give you more hot water capacity.