How Long Do Water Heaters Last?

What to Expect and When to Replace Your Water Heater

water heaters greene county, tn Like your refrigerator, you depend on your water heater pretty much every single day of the year. Life would be pretty unpleasant without access to hot water for too long. And as long as it’s doing its job, you probably don’t give it much thought, but if you’ve owned it for a while, you might start thinking about how long your water heater will last.

Most tank-type water heaters should last about 10 years before you begin to notice a reduction in performance. Not sure how old your tank is? It’s easy to check its age using the serial number on the manufacturer’s sticker. The first letter in the serial number corresponds to its month of production; the first two numbers is the year of production. For example, if the serial number on your water heater is H102738598, the “H” is the eighth letter in the alphabet and corresponds to August, the eighth month. The “10” stands for the year. So, the water heater was manufactured in August of 2010.

Know the Signs

There are a few signs that your water heater is reaching the end of its lifespan. You’ll notice higher energy bills, as well as water not getting as hot. Here are other signs to look for:

Rust: Is the heated water that comes from your tank rusty? That’s a big danger sign because it means that your water heater is corroding. Corrosion can lead to a tank failure, and all the hassle and expense that goes with it, in the near future. Contact us immediately.
Leaks: If you notice water around the base of your water tank, the likely culprit is a leak in the tank. Turn off the tank’s water supply and contact Dixon Energy right away for an inspection of your water heater.
Strange Noises: Rumbling noises in your water heater tank are a common sign of sediment buildup in your tank. That sediment can reduce your water heater’s efficiency. Left unattended, will lead to corrosion that can reduce the lifespan of your water heater. Contact us for a service call.
Hard water: While hard water is not a problem in our area (in fact, North Carolina is considered a “soft water” state) if you do have hard water, know that the extra minerals can lead to lime buildup in your water heater, decreasing it’s efficiency and shortening it’s life. And while water softeners can improve your water, they can be aware that they can also shorten the lifespan of your water heater.

Repair or Replace?

If any of those signs sound familiar, and you want to start thinking about replacing your water heater, you should consider updating to a high-efficiency tankless water heater. While a repair can make sense for newer equipment, replacing an old water heater makes more financial sense. That’s because today’s high-efficiency tankless water heaters will save you money in the long run.

Tankless water heaters offer several advantages. Tankless water heaters save energy by instantly heating water when you need it, rather than keeping a large tank hot all the time. As a result, you can enjoy virtually unlimited hot water—while seeing savings of up to 40%!
They also last twice as long (or longer!) than a tank-style water heater.

The experts at Admiral Propane can help. We sell, install, and service high-efficiency tankless water heaters from Rinnai. We can also help you take advantage of valuable rebates from TNPGA and Rinnai. Enjoy energy efficiency and comfort with a new water heater! Contact us today to get started.