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

Your hot water heater is probably the most underestimated system in your home. Seriously – without a water heater, you wouldn’t have any of these perks: 

  • Hot showers 
  • Hot baths 
  • Clean dishes 
  • Sanitized towels and sheets 
  • Hot water, period. 

Given the importance of the water heater, do you really know much about it? We’re here to give you a few things to keep in mind when it comes to replacing, maintaining, and servicing your water heater. 

The average lifespan of residential water heaters is 10-12 years

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

Maturing water heaters are nothing to mess around with. A water heater that is ten years or older is at more risk of springing a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater is in your attic or above the ground floor, the chance of catastrophic damage goes up. Always have your water heater maintenance annually to keep any leaks from creating damage in your home. 

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

It is a good idea to have your plumbing expert 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. Every water heater 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 disconnect should be placed close by. 

If a water heater is “undersized,” particularly a gas water heater, the tank will malfunction in a shorter amount of time. 

When a gas water heater is consistently drained of hot water due to substantial hot water utilization, the gas burner fires more frequently which can create heavy condensation on the tank exterior. The condensation can cause more speedy breakdown of the steel tank. Additionally, the severe heat from the gas burner on the underside of the water heater tank can also cause damage to the glass lining on the interior of the tank, which reduces 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 bigger 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, as long as the location will accommodate the larger size. The bigger tank will also provide you more hot water capacity. 

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