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

Your water heater is probably the most underrated appliance in your home. Really – without the water heater, you couldn’t have any of the following: 

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

Given the significance of the water heater, do you actually know much about it? We’re here to provide a couple things to remember when it comes to replacing, maintaining, and servicing your water heater. 

The usual lifespan of residential water heaters is between ten and twelve 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 displayed in the serial number which can be found on the ID sticker 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 higher risk of producing a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater is positioned in your attic or above the ground floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage goes up. Make sure you have your water heater maintenance annually to keep any leaks from causing damage to your home. 

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

It is best to have your installer place the water heater in a drain pan with piping that enables the pan to drain outside your home and minimize 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 switch off should be positioned close by. 

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

When a gas water heater is regularly depleted of hot water due to heavy hot water use, the gas burner fires more often which can create heavy condensation on the exterior of the tank. The condensation can produce more rapid deterioration of the steel tank. Furthermore, 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 inside of the tank, which decreases the life expectancy 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 thinking about replacing a water heater, it’s generally better to go with a bigger 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 supply you more hot water capacity. 

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