Homeowners often don’t think about the origin of their warm water until a problem occurs. Water heaters may run for quite a while, but they won’t last forever. With proper maintenance, however, you can prolong your water heater’s typical life expectancy and also save on your entire energy costs.
Average Life Expectancy
Correctly maintained water heaters typically last between eight and13 decades. The actual lifespan of your water heater is dependent on several factors, like the producer, maintenance, use and setup. In case you have a water heater which is more than 10 years old and it is not functioning correctly, your best choice is to replace it with a new one.
Prolonging Water Heater Life
Good water heater maintenance can raise your water heater’s efficiency and prolong its service life. Set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re planning to be off, turn the water heater off or the thermostat down to its smallest setting. Wrap self-sticking 3/8-inch-thick foam pipe insulation across the cold and hot water pipes to prevent condensation and keep water warm. This ensures your water heater doesn’t need to work harder to give hot water. Flushing sediment in the tank every year also helps prolong water heater life.