Your water heater is probably the most underappreciated appliance in your home. Really – without a water heater, you couldn’t have any of these perks:
- Warm showers
- Warm baths
- Clean dishes
- Clean towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the power of the water heater, do you truly know enough about it? We’re here with a couple things to keep in mind when it comes to servicing, maintaining, and replacing your water heater.
The typical lifespan of residential water heaters is between ten and twelve years.
Natural gas and electric water heaters will typically last about a decade before you need to think about replacing the system. If you are unsure about the age of your water heater, the date the system was manufactured will be reflected in the serial number which can be found on the identification tag on the water heater tank.
Maturing water heaters are nothing to mess around with. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at higher risk of getting a leak and causing water damage to your home. If your water heater is positioned in your attic or above the bottom floor, the chance of catastrophic damage increases. Make sure you have your water heater maintenance yearly to prevent any leaks from creating damage in your home.
The most usual malfunction of residential water heaters that will entail 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 enables the pan to drain outside your home and decrease the possibility of water damage. Every water heater should have a functional and obtainable 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 nearby.
If a water heater is “undersized,” in particular a gas water heater, the equipment will breakdown in a shorter period of time.
When a gas water heater is consistently emptied of hot water due to significant hot water usage, the gas burner fires repeatedly which can produce heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can cause more expeditious breakdown of the steel tank. Additionally, the exceptional heat from the gas burner on the base of the water heater tank can also cause damage to the glass lining on the inner section of the tank, which decreases the life cycle of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is an essential replacement consideration.
The water supply cause all water heaters to be under pressure, and as water is heated, it grows creating even more pressure. When considering replacement of a water heater, it’s generally better to go with a larger 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 provide you more hot water capacity.