Water heaters are integral to modern home comfort. They’re also significant investments and account for 18% of the average U.S. household’s energy expenses. To maximize your investment, you need to keep efficiency and longevity high, and that requires routine maintenance.
Water Heater Life Spans
The traditional tank water heater lasts around 10 years, and they can remain efficient and reliable for about 15 years with good maintenance habits. Tankless water heaters, which the industry also calls on-demand and instantaneous water heaters, will last at least 15 years. You can get 20 or even 25 years out of them with good maintenance, and there are even systems on the market that come with 25-year warranties.
All Water Heaters
All water heaters have at least one thermostat. Each year, your plumber will need to test and calibrate it. Proactive replacement of a faulty thermostat is often an important step in maximizing water heater longevity.
Tank Water Heaters
Tank or storage water heaters have been the traditional choice for water heating in American homes for many decades. These systems store and heat water in a tank. The typical tank size is between 40 and 50 gallons, but there are tanks for homes as small as 20 gallons and as large as 120 gallons. Big concerns with tank water heaters are corrosion, sediment, and limescale. The recommended maintenance includes annual flushing, which will get most of the sediment and limescale out of the tank. These systems also have sacrificial anode rods that help avoid corrosion and limescale accumulation through electrolysis. A plumber must check this rod annually and replace it as necessary. The typical life span for an anode rod is three to five years.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters don’t have tanks or anode rods. Nevertheless, limescale can accumulate on components, such as valves, and in tubes and pipes. It’s therefore necessary to descale the system using a recirculating pump and, typically, a vinegar-water solution. A plumber may use a chemical solution instead if the scale buildup is severe.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
Heat pump water heaters are a type of electric tank water heater that uses a heat pump to transfer heat energy into the water. This approach is far more efficient but requires a refrigeration process. That equipment needs annual maintenance much like an HVAC heat pump does.
Fuel-Burning Water Heaters
Water heaters that burn natural gas, liquid propane, or fuel oil have combustion equipment that your plumber needs to clean and calibrate yearly. It’s also necessary to check the exhaust system, as carbon monoxide poisoning is a concern.
Electric Water Heaters
Electric water heaters have two electric heating elements and two thermostats. Your plumber will also need to check the electrical system, tighten loose connections, and replace any worn wires.
If you need water heater maintenance in Indianapolis, IN, call JW’s, or contact us online.