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

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

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

Given the importance of the water heater, do you actually know much about it? We’re here to give you some things to remember when it comes to maintaining, servicing, 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 look into replacing the appliance. If you are unsure how old your water heater is, the date the unit 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 ignore. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at more risk of getting a leak and resulting in water damage to your home. If your water heater sits in your attic or above the bottom floor, the potential for catastrophic damage increases. Be sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to keep any leaks from creating damage in your home. 

The most usual malfunction of residential water heaters that will require 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 decrease the probability of water damage. Every water heater should have a operational and reachable turn-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 positioned nearby. 

If a water heater is “undersized,” in particular a gas water heater, the tank will breakdown in a shorter time span. 

When a gas water heater is routinely drained of hot water due to heavy hot water usage, the gas burner discharges repeatedly which can result in heavy condensation on the tank exterior. The condensation can produce more rapid decomposition of the steel tank. Also, the exceptional heat from the gas burner on the base of the water heater tank can also deteriorate the glass lining on the inner section of the tank, which reduces the life expectancy of the water heater. 

Water Heater sizing is an essential replacement factor. 

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 typically better to go with a sizable 50 gallon tank, rather than a 30 or 40 gallon tank, as long as the location will fit the larger size. The larger tank will also provide you more hot water capacity. 

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