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

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

• Steamy showers
• Toasty baths
• Sanitized dishes
• Disinfected 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 maintaining, servicing, and replacing your water heater.

The usual 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 consider replacing the water heater. If you aren’t sure what age your water heater is, the date the equipment was manufactured will be shown in the serial number which is located on the label on the water heater tank.

Maturing water heaters are nothing to mess around with. A water heater that is a decade or older is at higher risk of producing a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater sits in your attic or above the ground floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage goes up. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to avoid any leaks from damaging your home.

The most common malfunction of residential water heaters that will need replacement is a leaking tank.

It is best to have your plumbing expert install the water heater in a drain pan with piping that enables the pan to drain to the outside of your home and lower the probability of water damage. Every water heater should have a working and accessible shut-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 switch off should be placed within reach.

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 regularly drained of hot water due to heavy hot water utilization, the gas burner is set off more often which can create heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can result in more speedy breakdown of the steel tank. Also, the extreme heat from the gas burner on the bottom of the water heater tank can also cause damage to the glass lining on the inside of the tank, which decreases the lifespan of the water heater.

Water Heater sizing is an important replacement issue.

The water supply creates pressure for all water heaters, and as water is heated, it grows 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 50 gallon tank will also supply you more hot water capacity.