Your water heater is probably the most underestimated appliance in your home. Seriously – without a water heater, you wouldn’t have any of the following:
- Hot showers
- Toasty baths
- Sanitized dishes
- Disinfected towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the power of the water heater, do you really know much about it? We’re here to provide a couple things to think about 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 consider replacing the water heater. If you are not sure about the age of your water heater, the date the system was manufactured will be displayed in the serial number which is located on the label on the water heater tank.
Aging water heaters are nothing to mess around with. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at higher risk of producing a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater is positioned in your attic or above the first floor, the chance of catastrophic damage rises. Make sure you have your water heater maintenance every year to prevent any leaks from creating damage in your home.
The most common breakdown 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 lets the pan to drain to the outside of your home and decrease the potential of water damage. All water heaters should have a working 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 shut off should be positioned nearby.
If a water heater is “undersized,” in particular a gas water heater, the system will breakdown in a shorter period of time.
When a gas water heater is consistently emptied of hot water due to significant hot water utilization, the gas burner is set off repeatedly which can produce heavy condensation on the outside of the tank. The condensation can result in more expeditious deterioration of the steel tank. Also, the severe heat from the gas burner on the base of the water heater tank can also deteriorate the glass lining on the inside of the tank, which lowers the life expectancy of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is an essential replacement consideration.
The water supply cause all water heaters to be under pressure, and as water is heated, it extends creating even more pressure. When contemplating replacing a water heater, it’s usually better to go with a larger 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, as long as the location will accommodate the larger size. The 50 gallon tank will also give you more hot water capacity.