This sum-your household's "peak-hour demand" for hot water - should be close to your water heater's "first-hour rating" (FHR) printed on each heater's yellow Energy Guide label. "Otherwise, you'll end up with an energy-gobbling beast in the basement." To determine that capacity, you first need to add up about how much hot water your household uses during the busiest hour of an average day "Size a water heater for your demand 363 days a year, not the one or two days that you've got 25 relatives visiting," says Richard Trethewey, This Old House plumbing and heating expert. Hot Water Heater SizesĮven if you were happy with the old tank, don't automatically assume it had the suitable heating capacity. But if you choose one based solely on the speed of delivery, you may end up with a unit that can't keep up with demand, costs more to operate, and fails sooner than it should. Energy efficiency matters more.Īdmittedly, an ice-cold shower or a leaking heater makes it more urgent to get a new heater hooked up quickly. So if your heater is getting along in years, or if you're adding or upgrading a bathroom, remember the three cardinal rules of shopping for a standard storage water heater: Don't rush-size matters. If that happens, the pressure in your water heater will continue to build, putting more pressure on the already-stressed tank walls.The average water heater lasts about 8 to 12 years and accounts for roughly 15 to 20 percent of your utility bill. However, as time passes and your water heater gets older, this valve can get stuck in place due to corrosive buildup. Under normal circumstances, when there’s too much pressure in the tank, this valve opens to release some air and water, leveling off that pressure. You should have one of our plumbers assist you with this: partially corroded anode rods are extremely brittle, and attempting to remove and replace the rod yourself could result in it shattering, sending pieces into your water heater.Īs part of our water heater maintenance, we’ll want to check that the pressure-relief valve is working properly. In addition, having one of our plumbers replace the anode rod midway through the water heater’s life may add several years to the system’s lifespan. Your water heater should be drained, flushed, and otherwise maintained at least once annually to prevent the buildup of sediment and corrosion. Routine maintenance is the key to extending the lifespan of your standard water heater. That’s as good a sign as any that it’s time to replace your water heater.Įvery year you can squeeze out of your current water heater is another year you don’t have to purchase a new one. However, if they start to corrode, you could start to see small leaks or fractures in the tank shell. Under normal circumstances, the walls of your water heater tank are designed to contain this pressure. Heating water inside the tank produces pressure. The proverbial clock has started ticking on your water heater tank lifespan. However, once it has been corroded away, your water heater is vulnerable.
This rod attracts corrosive material away from the tank walls. To delay corrosion, standard water heaters have a sacrificial anode rod inserted into them. The combination of water and metal means corrosion is a matter of when, not if. With the right maintenance and care, it’s possible to extend their lifespan, but there are upper limits, mainly because the water heater tank itself is subjected to unique forms of stress. On average, most water heaters last about 10-13 years.
Standard water heaters are a relatively short-lived appliance. For decades, these water heaters have been the standard for homes. What you’re probably picturing is what most people associate with the phrase “water heaters.” They have a tank that stores heated water until it’s ready for use at the tap, shower head, or dishwasher. You’ll find standard water heaters in most homes.
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