What’s the worst way to find out your water heater has finally had it? The cold shower, or finding the puddle of water around the base? We often extend our water heaters well beyond their intended life spans, and all too often this causes a lot of damage and inconvenience. Many customers also overlook the importance of a quality water heater. The Dept. of Energy states heating hot water is 13% of the average household energy expense. Depending on what type of water heater you have and your usage, it could be as high as 25% of every energy dollar spent in your home. Natural gas water heaters are far more efficient, heating water almost as quickly as the normal household can use it. Electric water heaters are much slower, and cost 3 times more to heat the same amount of water.
Lifespan of the average water heater is subject to a few variables, but in the Lancaster and Berks county areas you can figure 8 to 10 years, and hope for 12 years out of your water heater.
Lets take a look at some of these variables.
The most important is water quality. Acid (low PH) water will ruin water heaters in as few as 3 years. Neutralizing the acid water with water treatment is a must in these cases; otherwise you will be replacing it every few years.
The hard water conditions in this area do nothing to encourage water heaters to last longer. As the calcium and lime build up in the tanks, over time the tank loses capacity and the ability to transfer heat properly. This shortens the life of the element, and reduces the amount of hot water available to you. Water softeners greatly reduce the mineral build up in the tanks but have been known to cause the anode rods in the water heaters to fail quickly.
Sizing and installation is very important to proper function. A water heater that is too small will not deliver enough hot water, and will overwork causing premature failure. The opposite issue, a tank that is too large will waste energy and money heating water that has no demand.
Installation by a professional will ensure the water heater is connected, and vented properly and installed to code specifications. When installed on a well system a filter should always be installed on the main water line to prevent the tank from accumulating sediment in the bottom.
A Quality water heater is of course a better option than the cheaper units at the big box stores. Better components that make the water heater work and last are installed into the plumbing professional models. Trying to do an annual maintenance draining on a water heater with a plastic drain valve often leads to leaks. Also, the elements in lesser quality electric water heaters are normally thin and frail.
Performing preventative maintenance on the water heater once in a while will give you the edge in getting the most out of your water heater. Annual flushing of the tank will help prevent the build up of sediment from hard water. If you have corrosive water from low pH, I highly recommend replacing the anode rod every few years. The anode rod is installed in the tank to be a sacrificial metal for all the nasty things in your water to chew away at instead of the tank itself. When the anode rod is gone, the tank soon follows. There is no repairing the tank. If it’s leaking, it needs to be replaced.
Warranties are often said to expire the day before the water heater dies. This can be said with just about any appliance, but with water heaters it can prove to be costly for replacement, and from the potential damage they can do when they fail.
Most water heaters come with a standard 6-year warranty. Bradford White and Rheem, both plumbing professional choices, offer full term warranty on both the tank and components. In contrast, if you read the warranties on cheaper units, the warranty is for the tank, but parts are covered for just 1 year. This of course reflects slightly in the price, but better components in some water heaters are worth the extra cost. The best warranty is one that is not needed.
Some manufacturers offer 9, 10, and even 12-year warranties. Generally these water heaters are no different than the units covered for 6 years. The customer is just paying a higher price for these units for the “insurance policy.” Bradford White offers a 10-year warranty, but it’s the same tank as the 6-year water heater. Some customers want that longer warranty. Water heater companies do not make different tanks for different warranty periods. You are not buying better quality; you are buying an insurance policy.
Extended warranties are all well and good, but when they fail, they do not cover installation of the new one, parts, and damage to your home should the tank fail. These extended warranties usually are prorated meaning the warranty is worth less the closer to the end it is.
I have personally installed 2 water heaters purchased from Lowes since I have been in business. Both units failed well before the warranty period. One leaked and deposited a good amount of water into the customer’s basement, cost me 5 hours of time doing clean up and replacement, and the expense of returning it. The other unit had elements fail 13 months after installation, once again costing me, as I warranted the unit even though Lowes would not. Needless to say those were and will be the only big box store water heaters I will ever install.
A good quality water heater, installed, and maintained by a professional is your best chance for an efficient long lasting water heating appliance.
Tim Wahl
Arrow Plumbing and Mechanical