The water heater is probably the most underestimated appliance in your home. Seriously – without a water heater, you wouldn’t have any of these luxuries:
- Steamy showers
- Hot baths
- Clean dishes
- Disinfected towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the importance of the water heater, do you actually know much about it? We’re here with a couple things to think about 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 typically last about a decade before you need to think about replacing the appliance. If you are unsure what age your water heater is, the date the equipment was manufactured will be displayed in the serial number which is located on the ID sticker on the water heater tank.
Aging water heaters are nothing to mess around with. A water heater that is ten years or older is at higher risk of springing a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater sits in your attic or above the first floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage increases. Always have your water heater maintenance yearly to prevent any leaks from causing damage to your home.
The most common malfunction of residential water heaters that will require replacement is a leaking tank.
It is highly recommended to have your plumber install the water heater in a drain pan with piping that lets the pan to drain to the outside of your home and minimize the probability 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 positioned close by.
If a water heater is “undersized,” particularly a gas water heater, the tank will fail in a shorter time span.
When a gas water heater is regularly depleted of hot water due to heavy hot water usage, the gas burner discharges more frequently which can result in heavy condensation on the tank exterior. The condensation can create more speedy deterioration of the steel tank. Also, the severe heat from the gas burner on the underside of the water heater tank can also deteriorate the glass lining on the interior of the tank, which lowers the lifespan of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is a significant replacement issue.
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 generally better to go with a sizable 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 supply you more hot water capacity.