How to Prolong the Life of Your Water Heater

Your home’s water heater is an essential component of your household, especially if you use hot water regularly to bathe, wash clothes, or even clean dirty dishes. If you want to prolong the lifespan of your water heater, there are a few tips you can keep in mind as a homeowner, even if you are not a water heater expert or technician yourself. The more familiar you are with the home water heater you have installed, the easier it will be for you to pinpoint when it’s time to turn to the professionals for an inspection, routine maintenance, or a repair job. 

Regularly Schedule Inspections

One of the best ways to prolong the lifespan of your home’s water heater is to ensure you hire the right professionals to conduct regularly scheduled inspections. While you are at home, you can also conduct your own visual inspections and checks for signs of leaks, rust, severe corrosions, or even connection issues. If you hear strange noises coming directly from your water heater, it is also likely time to call on a professional water heater technician for assistance. 

Conduct Regular Maintenance

Conducting regular maintenance of your home’s water heater is also imperative if you are determined to prolong its lifespan as long as possible. In addition to flushing your water heater’s tank annually, or once a year (to remove the buildup of sediment.

Professional Inspections

Requesting professional inspections and routine maintenance is also recommended if you want to ensure your water heater is in top-notch condition year-round, regardless of its age and make and model. A professional water heater technician or specialist can also pinpoint specific parts or components that may be replaced to significantly extend the lifespan of the heater you have installed at the time. 

Maintaining an Appropriate Temperature

Maintaining the right temperature in your water heater is essential for safety purposes in the home. In addition to safety, maintaining the optimal temperature in your home’s water heater will also reduce energy waste, allowing you to ensure your home’s utilities are working as efficiently as possible at all times. In most instances, it is recommended to set a residential water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal output and energy conservation, ultimately resulting in the prolonging of your heater’s lifespan. 

Increasing Overall Efficiency

Today, leading a life that is more sustainable and efficient is one of the best ways to prolong the lifespan of any utilities you have in the home, including your water heater. If you are determined to extend the lifespan of your home’s water heater while doing so as sustainably as possible, there are a few energy-efficient tips to keep in mind, such as:

• Investing in Insulation: Depending on the age and setup of your home, you may want to consider investing in new insulation for your home’s pipes connected to your water heater. When pipes that are connected to your home’s water heater are insulated, it will reduce the overall heat loss of water as the water is traveling from the hot water heater itself to your kitchen and bathroom sinks or other faucets in the home.
• Low-flow and Low-pressure Fixtures: Another way to go about increasing the overall efficiency in your home is to do so by investing in low-flow and low-pressure fixtures and utilities. When using low flow fixtures that are connected to your water heater, you will reducing the overall demand and load of hot water, allowing your water heater to store more hot water at any given time. Additionally, by utilizing less hot water each time you use a low-flow fixture, you will put less strain on the heater itself, reducing wear and tear and prolonging its lifespan altogether.
• Use a Timer: Installing a timer that is attached to your home’s water heater is another way to take more control of the system you have in place. A timer will also help you to save energy when heated water is not required in the home, such as when you are away at work or even during the night.

The more familiar you are with your home’s water heater’s individual needs, the easier it will be for you to determine when it requires an inspection, ongoing maintenance, or when it is time to replace an internal component. Listening for strange sounds and conducting visual inspections can help you to determine when it’s best to turn to the professional water heater technicians to get the job you require done in a timely manner. With an understanding of the basics of your home’s water heater and when it’s best to call on the professionals, you can prolong any water heater you have installed for years to come. 

Replace your water heater before it leaks and causes considerable water damage. Based on the manufacturer’s suggested service life, the average life expectancy of a water heater is about 8 to 12 years. That varies with the location and design of the unit, quality of installation, maintenance schedule and water quality.