Things to Keep in Mind When It Comes to Your Water Heater
The water heater is probably the most underappreciated appliance in your home. Seriously – without the water heater, you wouldn’t have any of these perks:
- Warm showers
- Hot baths
- Disinfected dishes
- Disinfected towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the power of the water heater, do you actually know enough about it? We’re here with 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 commonly last about a decade before you need to consider replacing the appliance. If you aren’t sure how old your water heater is, the date the system was manufactured will be shown in the serial number which can be found on the label 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 getting a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater is in your attic or above the first floor, the chance of catastrophic damage goes up. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to prevent any leaks from damaging your home.
The most typical breakdown of residential water heaters that will need replacement is a leaking tank.
It is highly recommended 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 decrease the potential of water damage. All water heaters should have a functional 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 disconnect should be positioned close by.
If a water heater is “undersized,” especially a gas water heater, the tank will breakdown in a shorter period of time.
When a gas water heater is routinely drained of hot water due to substantial hot water utilization, the gas burner is set off more often which can create heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can create more expeditious deterioration of the steel tank. Also, the severe heat from the gas burner on the base of the water heater tank can also take its toll on the glass lining on the interior of the tank, which lowers the lifespan of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is a crucial replacement consideration.
The water supply creates pressure for all water heaters, and as water is heated, it grows creating even more pressure. When considering replacement of a water heater, it’s typically better to go with a sizable 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, presuming the location will accept the larger size. The 50 gallon tank will also provide you more hot water capacity.
