Your hot water heater is probably the most underappreciated system in your home. Seriously – without your water heater, you don’t have any of these perks:
- Hot showers
- Warm baths
- Sanitized dishes
- Disinfected towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the significance of the water heater, do you actually know much about it? We’re here with some things to think about when it comes to maintaining, servicing, and replacing your water heater.
The average lifespan of residential water heaters is about ten to twelve years.
Natural gas and electric water heaters will usually last about a decade before you need to think about replacing the system. If you are not sure about the age of your water heater, the date the system was manufactured will be reflected in the serial number which you can find on the identification tag on the water heater tank.
Aging water heaters are nothing to take lightly. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at greater risk of producing a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater sits in your attic or above the first floor, the potential for catastrophic damage rises. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance every year to prevent any leaks from damaging your home.
The most usual failure of residential water heaters that will entail 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 allows the pan to drain to the outside of your home and minimize the potential of water damage. Each water heater should have a operational and accessible 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 nearby.
If a water heater is “undersized,” in particular a gas water heater, the system will breakdown in a shorter time span.
When a gas water heater is consistently drained of hot water due to substantial hot water use, the gas burner fires repeatedly which can result in heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can cause more expeditious deterioration of the steel tank. Also, the extreme heat from the gas burner on the bottom of the water heater tank can also deteriorate 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 cause all water heaters to be under pressure, 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, providing the location will accommodate the larger size. The bigger tank will also give you more hot water capacity.