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

Your water heater is probably the most underappreciated system in your home. Really – without a water heater, you don’t have any of the following: 

• Steamy showers 
• Toasty baths 
• Clean dishes 
• Sanitized towels and sheets 

• Hot water, period. 

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

The usual lifespan of residential water heaters is 10-12 years. 

Natural gas and electric water heaters will commonly last about a decade before you need to consider replacing the water heater. If you aren’t sure how old your water heater is, the date the system was manufactured will be reflected in the serial number which can be found on the ID sticker on the water heater tank. 

Aging water heaters are nothing to ignore. A water heater that is ten years or older is at more risk of springing a leak and causing water damage to your home. If your water heater is positioned 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 prevent any leaks from creating damage in your home. 

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

It is best 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 lower the potential of water damage. Each water heater should have a working 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 disconnect should be located nearby. 

If a water heater is “undersized,” particularly a gas water heater, the system will malfunction in a shorter time span. 

When a gas water heater is consistently depleted of hot water due to significant hot water use, the gas burner discharges repeatedly which can create heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can cause more expeditious breakdown of the steel tank. Furthermore, the exceptional heat from the gas burner on the underside of the water heater tank can also deteriorate the glass lining on the inside of the tank, which lowers the lifespan of the water heater. 

Water Heater sizing is a crucial replacement issue. 

The water supply creates pressure for all water heaters, and as water is heated, it grows creating even more pressure. When contemplating replacing a water heater, it’s typically better to go with a sizable 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, providing the location will accept the larger size. The 50 gallon tank will also supply you more hot water capacity.