When it’s well-maintained, a typical water heater can last eight to 12 years. It’s an essential appliance that often gets overlooked until something goes wrong with it, yet it’s crucial for everyday comfort and convenience. From hot showers to washing dishes, we count on the water heater daily. Understanding how to make it last as long as possible is vital to preventing frequent repairs or replacing it sooner than necessary.
Get an Annual Inspection
Scheduling an annual water heater inspection is one of the easiest ways to extend its life span and ensure it’s working efficiently. Sediment can often build up inside the tank, especially if you live in an area with hard water. A qualified plumber can perform a professional inspection and flush the tank to remove the sediment and prevent it from causing damage.
Our team will also check the anode rod, which prevents corrosion and is the most critical component of the water heater. It’s ideal to replace this part every few years to ensure maximum efficiency and help extend the life span of your water heater.
Another benefit of an annual inspection is that we can identify problems with your water heater before they turn into substantial issues. We will check for leaks, corrosion, problems with the thermostat, and other issues that could quickly worsen and turn into a major expense. The longer water heater problems go unaddressed, the higher the chances are you’ll need a repair soon. Your water heater may be looking at a shorter life span.
Install a Whole-House Water Softener System
Installing a whole-house water softener system is an effective way to prolong the life of your water heater if you live in an area with hard water. Hard water contains high levels of minerals, including magnesium and calcium, which can accumulate inside this appliance over time.
This buildup of minerals forms a layer inside the water heater and causes it to work harder than usual. This strains the appliance, increases your utility bills, and decreases the appliance’s life span. A water softener system removes much of the minerals from the water and prevents them from entering the water heater, thereby reducing the risk of the buildup over time.
Do Frequent Self-Inspections
If our team comes to your home once a year to do an annual inspection of your water heater, that doesn’t mean it should go unchecked throughout the rest of the year. Frequent self-inspections of the appliance can significantly increase its life span by allowing you to catch minor issues before they become massive and costly. This is important to do, especially if the water heater is in an out-of-the-way location where you typically don’t go on a regular basis.
Do a spot check and look for problematic signs, such as leaks or corrosion. This will also give you a chance to listen to any uncommon noises, such as popping sounds. Make sure there are no odd odors coming from the appliance.
Identifying these issues early on allows you to call a professional plumber so we can diagnose the problem and come up with an appropriate course of action. By being proactive, you can keep your water heater running efficiently and extend its life span to avoid expensive repairs or premature replacements.
You’ll also want to make it a point to do this at certain key times. This includes right before you’re leaving for vacation, before guests stay at your home, and right before the busy December holiday season. It can give you peace of mind that your water heater is working properly and won’t disrupt your plans with an emergency and a high repair price tag.
Call for Immediate Repairs
Many homeowners hold off on calling a plumber to check out an odd noise or bad smell. The problem is often attributed to a minor inconvenience or something they think can be dealt with later.
However, delaying repairs could end up costing you a huge amount of money. There’s no telling what a seemingly minor issue can be with your water heater until a professional evaluates the situation. Something that seems simple could cause a severe issue down the road, such as a complete appliance breakdown.
Prompt repairs also help maintain the condition of your water heater, ensuring it continues to function correctly. By fixing these problems with the water heater sooner, we can restore its condition and have it working optimally. Calling for immediate repairs when you notice an issue with your water heater is crucial for extending its useful life and preventing further damage. Addressing the problem right away allows us to diagnose and fix the issue before it could put additional stress on the other components and cause more serious problems.
Inspect Its Insulation
Ensuring your water heater has proper amounts of insulation is a simple yet highly effective way to extend its life. Insulation helps this appliance maintain the water temperature inside the tank, which will also reduce the amount of energy required to keep the water at a perfect temperature. When the water heater isn’t properly insulated, it must work harder to compensate for heat loss, which puts unnecessary strain on the system.
Although this may not seem like it means much, this extra workload can cause wear and tear on the components and shorten the water heater’s life. Adding or replacing the insulation around the tank and corresponding pipes allows the unit to function more efficiently.
It can also help protect the water heater from climate temperature fluctuations, which is particularly important in areas that experience extreme temperatures throughout the year, such as very hot temperatures during the summer and freezing temperatures during the winter.
A professional should evaluate your insulation, especially if it’s been a while since it’s been checked or there’s currently no insulation protecting your appliance.
Keep Pets Away From It
Any pet owner knows how curious some animals can be. You don’t want them to go near your water heater. Not only could they get hurt, but they could also damage the appliance. For example, they could chew on the wires or rip off some of the insulation. Depending on the damage they do to the water heater, it could result in a costly fix or a full-blown replacement.
Don’t Change the Thermostat’s Temperature
When installing the appliance, a qualified plumber will set the water heater’s thermostat to a proper temperature. They’ll typically set it to around 120 degrees for safety. Some homeowners change the temperature, which isn’t ideal for various reasons, including that it could strain your water heater. The appliance will then use more energy to try and maintain the higher water temperature, leading to higher utility bills and a shorter life span due to overworking itself.
Don’t lose your water heater long before the estimated 12-year mark. Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter in San Jose, CA, can help with the appliance and other plumbing services as well as gas and sewer services. Contact us today for fast and reliable water heater assistance.
