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

The water heater is probably the most underappreciated appliance in your home. Think about it – without your water heater, you don’t have any of the following: 

• Hot showers 
• Warm baths 
• Clean dishes 
• Clean towels and sheets 

• Hot water, period. 

Given the power of the water heater, do you really know much about it? We’re here to give you 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 between ten and twelve years. 

Natural gas and electric water heaters will typically last about a decade before you need to consider replacing the appliance. If you aren’t sure what age your water heater is, the date the system was manufactured will be reflected in the serial number which is located on the identification tag 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 greater risk of springing a leak and resulting in water damage to your home. If your water heater is in your attic or above the first floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage rises. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance every year to prevent any leaks from damaging your home. 

The most typical failure of residential water heaters that will require replacement is a leaking tank. 

It is best to have your installer place the water heater in a drain pan with piping that allows the pan to drain outside your home and decrease the possibility of water damage. All water heaters should have a working and obtainable 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 within reach. 

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

When a gas water heater is regularly emptied of hot water due to heavy hot water use, the gas burner fires repeatedly which can create heavy condensation on the tank exterior. The condensation can cause more expeditious deterioration of the steel tank. Additionally, the extreme heat from the gas burner on the bottom of the water heater tank can also take its toll on the glass lining on the interior of the tank, which reduces the lifespan of the water heater. 

Water Heater sizing is an important replacement consideration. 

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