Many homeowners don’t give their water heater much thought. It’s an out of sight, out of mind situation. The reality is that your water heater is an essential home appliance that requires maintenance and, eventually, replacing. Water heater failures are one of the top sources of costly residential water loss. To prevent your water heater from bursting and causing damage to your home, you need to know how old it is.
It’s important to know the installation date of your water heater because, unfortunately, they don’t last forever. Most modern water heaters have a sticker that displays the installation date. If your water heater doesn’t provide an installation date, you will need to locate the manufacturer’s label and serial number. The serial number may include the month and year that the water heater was installed. If you still can’t determine the date of installation, you will need to contact the manufacturer directly.
Some water heaters are pre-owned, in which case the installation date may not provide the correct age for your water heater. Knowing the installation date will still provide you with a better idea of its age. The life expectancy of a water heater is around 8 to 12 years. Signs that your water heater needs maintenance or replacing include leaks and noisy operation. Other warning signs include limited or no hot water and calcium buildup. Water heaters are more likely to have such issues after 10 years of age.
To extend the life of your water heater and increase its efficiency, perform routine maintenance. Your water heater should be drained every year to rid the tank of collected sediment that could potentially cause corrosion over time. In general, keep the temperature setting on your water heater at 120 degrees to prevent overheating and save you money in utility costs.
A water heater is a necessity for your home. So, to increase its efficiency and longevity, avoid neglecting it. Make sure to schedule routine maintenance once a year and to avoid unnecessary costs and further issues, call a plumber at the first sign of trouble. Just Right Services is happy to help with your water heater needs.
