Your water heater is probably the most underappreciated machine in your home. Think about it – without the water heater, you don’t have any of the following:
- Steamy showers
- Toasty baths
- Sanitized 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 to give you a couple things to remember 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 usually last about a decade before you need to look into replacing the appliance. If you are unsure about the age of your water heater, the date the equipment was manufactured will be reflected in the serial number which can be found on the identification tag on the water heater tank.
Maturing water heaters are nothing to ignore. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at more risk of producing a leak and resulting in water damage to your home. If your water heater sits in your attic or above the first floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage goes up. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to prevent any leaks from creating damage in your home.
The most usual breakdown 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 lets the pan to drain outside your home and decrease the probability of water damage. All water heaters should have a operational and reachable 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 shut off should be located within reach.
If a water heater is “undersized,” particularly a gas water heater, the tank will fail in a shorter amount of time.
When a gas water heater is consistently drained of hot water due to significant hot water usage, the gas burner fires more often which can produce heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can produce more rapid decomposition of the steel tank. Also, the exceptional 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 lowers the life expectancy of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is a crucial replacement consideration.
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 sizable 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 supply you more hot water capacity.