Things to Keep in Mind When It Comes to Your Water Heater 

Your water heater is probably the most underrated system in your home. Think about it – without a water heater, you wouldn’t have any of the following: 

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

• Hot water, period. 

Given the power of the water heater, do you actually know much about it? We’re here with a couple things to remember when it comes to servicing, maintaining, and replacing your water heater. 

The typical lifespan of residential water heaters is between ten and twelve years. 

Natural gas and electric water heaters will typically last about a decade before you need to consider replacing the appliance. If you aren’t sure about the age of your water heater, the date the unit was manufactured will be reflected in the serial number which is located on the ID sticker on the water heater tank. 

Maturing water heaters are nothing to mess around with. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at higher risk of springing a leak and causing water damage to your home. If your water heater sits in your attic or above the ground floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage rises. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to keep any leaks from damaging your home. 

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

It is highly recommended to have your installer place the water heater in a drain pan with piping that enables the pan to drain to the outside of your home and lower the possibility 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 cut off should be placed close by. 

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

When a gas water heater is routinely emptied of hot water due to heavy hot water use, the gas burner is set off more often which can produce heavy condensation on the outside of the tank. The condensation can result in more expeditious decomposition of the steel tank. Also, the severe heat from the gas burner on the base of the water heater tank can also cause damage to the glass lining on the interior of the tank, which lowers the life expectancy of the water heater. 

Water Heater sizing is an important replacement consideration. 

All water heaters are under pressure from the water supply, and as water is heated, it extends creating even more pressure. When considering replacement of a water heater, it’s usually better to go with a larger 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, presuming the location will accept the larger size. The bigger tank will also supply you more hot water capacity.