Things to Keep in Mind When It Comes to Your Water Heater
The water heater is probably the most underrated appliance in your home. Seriously – without a water heater, you couldn’t have any of the following:
- Hot showers
- Warm baths
- Sanitized dishes
- Disinfected towels and sheets
- Hot water, period.
Given the importance of the water heater, do you truly know a good amount about it? We’re here with a couple things to keep in mind 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 usually 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.
Older water heaters are nothing to take lightly. A water heater that is 10 years or older is at greater risk of producing a leak and leading to water damage to your home. If your water heater sits in your attic or above the first floor, the possibility of catastrophic damage rises. Make sure you have your water heater maintenance yearly to keep any leaks from creating damage in your home.
The most usual failure of residential water heaters that will entail 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 allows the pan to drain outside of your home and decrease the possibility of water damage. Every water heater should have a functional and accessible 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 cut off should be placed within reach.
If a water heater is “undersized,” in particular a gas water heater, the equipment will breakdown in a shorter amount of time.
When a gas water heater is routinely emptied of hot water due to substantial hot water use, the gas burner discharges more often which can produce heavy condensation on the outside of the tank. The condensation can result in more expeditious breakdown of the steel tank. Furthermore, the exceptional heat from the gas burner on the bottom of the water heater tank can also deteriorate the glass lining on the inside of the tank, which lowers the life cycle of the water heater.
Water Heater sizing is an important replacement issue.
The water supply cause all water heaters to be under pressure, and as water is heated, it grows creating even more pressure. When contemplating replacing a water heater, it’s usually 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 larger tank will also supply you more hot water capacity.
