You can save yourself a lot of time and headaches by keeping track of the life expectancy of your water heater. As a general rule of thumb, your water heater will last you anywhere from 6 to 20 years. That’s a wide range, but there are a lot of factors that determine how long your water heater will last.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common factors.
Type of Hot Water Heater
The type of water heater you have is arguably the most important factor that determines how long it will last. There are two types: traditional tank and tankless water heaters. A traditional water heater is said to last anywhere from 6 to 12 years. A tankless heater is a more modern solution that is designed to last up to 20 years. Tankless water heaters tend to last longer because they aren’t running 24/7 keeping a tank of water hot.
Water Heater Size
The right sized water heater for your home depends on things such as the number of people living there and the number of water fixtures and appliances you own. If your water heater is too big for your home, you’ll likely have heated water sitting in that you don’t use. If your hot water heater is too small, that means it has to work overtime to heat and deliver the water to the fixtures in your household. When your water heater consistently works to provide hot water to your home and can’t keep up, it might not have the same life expectancy as one that works more efficiently for your needs.
Sediment Buildup
This is an issue that particularly affects traditional tank water heaters. Over time, sediment can sit and buildup at the bottom of the tank and harden. Once this happens, the tank has to work even harder to function properly and warm the water inside the tank. To prolong the life of your traditional tank water heater, it’s important to have it inspected and cleaned periodically so that sediment buildup doesn’t occur as quickly.
Too Much Water Pressure
Did you know that too much pressure can destroy your water heater? When your water water’s PSI level is much higher than the recommended amount indicated on the water heater, there’s likely too much pressure. If this issue isn’t resolved, it can cause your water heater to burst and leave you having to replace it a lot sooner than you may have anticipated.
Is it Too Late For Your Water Heater?
If you’ve experienced a problem with your old, faulty plumbing and need a water heater installation in Sykesville, MD, Michael Runk Plumbing and Heating can help you with that! We’ll have it installed at your earliest convenience so that you and your family can go back to enjoying your hot water. Call or contact us today to schedule your appointment.