Help Your Water Heater Live Forever! (kinda)

Well, nothing lasts forever, especially not something with a lot of moving parts. However, with the help of some solid pointers and a good plumber, we can at least make sure you have warm bath water for your re-read of your favorite world-spanning fantasy epic! Heck, it might last until that next book in the series drops (if it ever does)!

How Long Does a Water Heater Last?

One of the most common questions we get is “How long does a water heater last?” or perhaps a little more realistically, “How long SHOULD a water heater last?”

Water heaters typically last 8-15 years, depending on type: traditional tank (8-12), tankless (8-15), or heat pump/hybrid (10-15). You can extend their lifespan through professional installation, regular inspections, flushing, anode rod replacement, and 120°F settings. Replace when leaking, rusting, or showing age.

The biggest factor in determining this is what type of water heater you have. The average homeowner has no reason to know this, but there have been a lot of changes to the water heater world in the past few decades, and a water heater bought today may have a longer lifespan than a traditional water heater.

There are three main types of water heaters:

Traditional tank water heaters – these are the big adult-man-sized cylinders (hot water tank) you always see in sitcoms.- 8-12 years.
Tankless Water Heaters – also called instantaneous, continuous flow, inline, flash, on-demand, or instant-on water heaters, these are usually smaller, often a rectangle or square, that looks more like a utility panel or a fuse box. – 8-15 years
Heat Pump / Hybrid Water Heaters – these energy-efficient models have a tank, like traditional water heaters, but use some of the same technology as a tankless. They are usually a bit shorter than traditional tank water heaters and often have a digital display. – 10-15 years

Now, you don’t have to be a trained technician to notice that even within each group, there is a four to seven-year difference in lifespan. So, you probably want to know how to be one of those people who get 15 years of use out of their water heater, not 8, right? We thought so. That’s why we named the next section:

How to Make Your Water Heater Last Longer

To many homeowners, having a hot water heater is like being haunted. They know the thing is there, they see it out of the corner of their eye when they pass, they just hope it never does anything scary, and they can keep ignoring it.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! You and your hot water heater can have a healthy relationship full of great communication and, dare we say, warm feelings.

Here are a few important tips on water heater maintenance that can help you keep that ghost happy and keep you from having to perform an exorcism…or, you know, buy a new water heater.

Schedule professional installation: One of the largest factors in the lifespan of a water heater is the quality of the installation. What might be a minor issue when assembling your IKEA sofa might end in a flood if you’re installing your own water heater. This can be especially tricky when dealing with a gas water heater / propane water heater, where you’re bringing a potentially explosive element into the equation. Our plumbing professionals can help you avert disaster.
Visual inspection: We know that many water heaters are installed in basements, garages, or closets, but it’s dangerous to ignore them. Every three to six months, it’s important to give your water heater a quick once-over. Look for leaks, corrosion, pooling water, or loose gas or electrical connections. Spotting an issue early can make the difference between a quick fix and a replacement.
Annual Professional Inspection: It might not always be top of mind, but when you’re dealing with one of the few places in your house where water and electricity work very closely, it’s always a good idea to get a professional in to make sure everything is working as it should.
Flushing Your Water Heater: If you have a professional inspection, they will likely take care of this then, but with proper precaution and care, the average homeowner may also be able to flush a water heater. Flushing means turning off the connection to the water line, hooking up a hose to the water heater, and allowing the entire water heater to drain. This can prevent buildup within the water heater, especially if you know that your neighborhood has hard water. You should look up detailed instructions on how to do this before attempting it yourself.
Anode Rod Replacement – An Anode Rod is an element of a water heater made of aluminum, magnesium, and zinc whose job is to attract corrosive elements and sacrifice itself for the good of the rest of the system. Every 3-5 years, the anode rod needs to be replaced. This should be done by a professional and will keep the rest of your system from corroding as quickly.
Set Your Water Heater to 120 degrees: Anything higher than this can cause scalding, but it also wastes energy, makes your heater work harder, and increases the probability and speed of mineral buildup.
Add Insulation: If you have an old tank water heater, adding an insulation blanket to the outside can minimize heat loss and keep the system from having to work as hard.
Install a water softener – Hard water is full of minerals that can build up inside your tank. If you know your neighborhood has hard water, you can install a softener to keep those elements from getting in. Not just that, it’s good for your hair too!
Keep a Record of Maintenance: it’s easy! Just hang a little clipboard next to your water heater and make sure you get/make notes whenever maintenance is done. That way, you don’t miss a regular appointment, and your next technician can know what issues to look out for.
Address Issues Early: The vast majority of issues we deal with could have been small fixes if we had heard from the homeowner early. The absolute most important way to extend the life of your water heater is to deal with problems as early as possible.

When Should I Replace My Water Heater?

Alas, for all things there is a season, and eventually your water heater will need a memorial service with an afternoon repaste and a small plot in the backyard where you can visit it from time to time. Under the tree would be nice. He always liked it there.

But how do you know when the time has come? Well, let us make a few recommendations on water heater replacement:

Age – If your hot water heater is over ten years old, you need to start keeping tabs on it. Some traditional water heaters go down earlier, but once you hit ten, you need to start thinking about what comes next.
Leaks – First, make sure there are no loose valves or tubes. Once the water heater itself starts leaking, odds are good you have more wear and tear than can be fixed.
Visible Rust – If the heater shows patches of rust or other physical degradation, it is well past time for it to go.
Rusty Water – If water coming out of the tank is brown and rusty, it means you have internal corrosion, and it is likely time to pick out a nice headstone and a funeral wreath.

When Should I Get My Water Heater Repaired?

Okay, there are some things your water heater can’t come back from, but that doesn’t mean you should start choosing pallbearers as soon as you get cold water. TLC is full of expert technicians who can help you resolve all sorts of smaller issues. Here are a few signs that it’s time to call your favorite techs out to get you sorted:

Less than Ten Years Old – Not everything can be fixed, but the odds are much better if your unit is less than ten years old. Most pieces needed for repair will still be on the market and it may be as easy as swapping out a damaged element.
Knocking – a water heater that makes a loud knocking or banging sound is likely dealing with significant sediment buildup. We can fix that! This is especially common in areas with hard water, and we know exactly how to deal.
Cold Water – there are lots of reasons your hot water heater may stop producing hot water (perhaps it became unplugged or the pilot light went out). However, if it’s still passing water through without leakage, it may also be something as simple as replacing your heating element, and there’s no need to send your a/c unit flowers of condolence for losing her friend yet.
Cloudy Water – like knocking, cloudy water is simply a sign of sediment. Get our techs out to do a good flush of the system, and we’ll likely have you back in the shower in no time.

What Type of Water Heater Lasts the Longest?

So you want the cheat code, eh? What kind of water heater do you need to get to make sure you’re not back here asking the same questions again?

While the lifespan of all types of water heaters depends on regular maintenance, Heat Pump (hybrid) water heaters tend to have the longest average lifespan.

Due to the hybrid nature of the heat pump hot water heaters, they both generate heat like a tankless system and pull heat from the surrounding atmosphere. This means that they are saving energy and only a fraction as hard as a tankless system. As a result of doing less hard work on a daily basis, they last longer.

What Size Water Heater Do I Need?

The best way to determine the size of water heater you need is to look at the number of people in your home who will be using it, and consider how much demand there is at any given time for hot water:

1-2 person household
- High demand: 40-50 gallons
- Low demand: 30 gallons
2-3 person household
- High demand: 40-50 gallons
- Low demand: 40 gallons
3-4 person household
- High demand: 50-75 gallons
- Low demand: 40 gallons
5+ person household
- High demand: 75 gallons
- Low demand: 50 gallons

Whatever your need, our expert technicians are here to help with maintenance, repair, or new water heater installation. Contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 505-761-9644, or request service online.