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

Your hot water heater is probably the most underappreciated appliance in your home. Seriously – without the water heater, you wouldn’t have any of these luxuries: 

• Steamy showers 
• Toasty baths 
• Disinfected dishes 
• Disinfected towels and sheets 

• Hot water, period. 

Given the significance of the water heater, do you actually know enough about it? We’re here to provide a couple things to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining, servicing, 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 appliance. If you are not sure about the age of your water heater, the date the equipment was manufactured will be shown in the serial number which you can find on the ID sticker on the water heater tank. 

Maturing water heaters are nothing to ignore. A water heater that is ten years or older is at more risk of producing 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 goes up. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to keep any leaks from damaging your home. 

The most usual breakdown of residential water heaters that will require replacement is a leaking tank. 

It is a good idea to have your plumber install the water heater in a drain pan with piping that allows the pan to drain outside of your home and decrease the possibility of water damage. Every water heater should have a working and reachable 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 positioned within reach. 

If a water heater is “undersized,” especially a gas water heater, the system will fail in a shorter period of time. 

When a gas water heater is regularly drained of hot water due to heavy hot water use, the gas burner fires more often which can result in heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can cause 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 deteriorate the glass lining on the interior of the tank, which reduces the lifespan of the water heater. 

Water Heater sizing is an essential replacement consideration. 

All water heaters are under pressure from the water supply, and as water is heated, it extends creating even more pressure. When thinking about replacing 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 fit the larger size. The 50 gallon tank will also give you more hot water capacity.