One of our most overlooked luxuries is the ability to instantly get hot water. It’s so overlooked, in fact, many people don’t even consider it a luxury and don’t give their hot water heater a second thought. Until they don’t have any hot water.
A failing water heater can be a major pain and cause annoying problems for your home. That’s why every homeowner should understand how much time their water heater has left in its lifespan, a few tricks to keep it running, and the warning signs for a failing water heater.
Once you know the signs, you can avoid serious headaches when replacing your home’s water heater. You can find “water heater replacement near me” to learn more.
How Long Do Water Heaters Last?
There are two styles of water heaters available for your home: traditional heaters with a water tank and tankless heaters. Both types are available in gas or electric models. Tank heaters are more common and typically last around 10 years, but lifespans can range from 5 to 15 years. Tankless water heaters on average last around 15 years but can last as long as 25 when properly cared for.
A tank heater can fail for a few reasons:
- Sediment builds up in the tank, insulating the heating element and corroding the tank. Signs include water taking a long time to get hot or running out of water quickly.
- Tank heaters use anode rods to prevent corrosion. If this rod gets corroded, your water tank will rust and spring a leak.
- Skipping regular maintenance can lead to various parts and valves wearing out and eventually failing. Depending on the part, this can cause a leak or stop your heater from warming water.
A tankless heater’s lifespan is generally considered by manufacturing quality, water quality, how much you use it, and whether or not you keep it maintained.
Water Heater Maintenance
Drain, flush, and clean your tank heater once per year to remove any mineral deposits in the tank. If you have hard water in your area consider having this done twice a year.
Tankless water heaters need less care but should still be flushed annually to avoid mineral buildup. Turn the heater off and run vinegar or other descaling agent through the pipes for an hour to flush out any sediment.
Signs It’s Time for Water Heater Replacement
The first sign you should consider a water heater replacement is the age. Since water heaters usually don’t last more than 15 years, if your model is approaching that age you should start shopping for a replacement.
Listen for strange noises coming from your heater. Banging, knocking, or rattling noises are a sign sediment has built up and hardened.
Rusty water is another sign your boiler is nearing its end. When the anode rod fully erodes, your tank will start to rust. Orange or brownish tap water means your tank is approaching failure.
If your heater fails to get water fully hot, takes a long time to heat, or runs out of hot water quickly, are signs your heating element has failed or become insulated by mineral deposits. Either way, your heater likely needs replacing.
Finally, watch for water pools forming outside the base of the tank. Small pools that evaporate quickly and don’t return are likely condensation and not a problem. However, recurrent pooling is a sign of a leaky tank that’s on the brink of failure.
Knowing the warning signs of water heater failure is an important part of home ownership. It can help prevent costly repairs in the future and stop you from being stuck without hot water at an inopportune time.
