Most of us don’t think about our water heater much unless it’s not delivering hot water fast enough or unless you’ve needed to repair or replace it. Most residential water heaters have a lifespan between six and twelve years. The average water heater lasts for about eight years, but many people will find they’ve had theirs for a decade. If your water heater has reached its tenth birthday, you may want to consider preemptively replacing the appliance before it has the chance to break down when you need it most.
If you aren’t sure you’re ready to upgrade your water heater, here are the additional benefits of replacing your current unit now.
- Better Energy Efficiency: Technology and engineering improve each year, and the water heater you purchased ten years ago isn’t as efficient as newer models sold today. Upgrading to a new water heater means you’ll use less energy to heat the same amount of water, and you’ll spend less money on utility costs without changing usage behaviors. In addition to warming water faster with less energy, newer water heaters are better at maintaining the temperature of your heated water, so your tank allows less heat loss.
- Avoid Property Damage: The older your water, the more likely it is to malfunction. Older storage tank water heaters are prone to leaks and eruptions from sediment buildups, erosion, and rusting. Older systems are especially vulnerable to rupture as they age, and when a tank filled with hot water ruptures, it can lead to serious property damage. You can avoid the likelihood of this damage by upgrading to a new system if yours is over ten years old.
- Improved Hot Water Supply: Older water heaters may stop working as well as they did when they were first installed. If you’re worried about running out of hot water mid-shower, avoid that uncomfortable position by upgrading to a new water heater that has a longer supply of water. You could also choose to upgrade to a tankless water heater, and you’d enjoy access to hot water on-demand.
- Reliability: Just because your water heater is working doesn’t mean that you should wait for it to malfunction before making a choice to purchase a new system. Water heaters provide a vital resource that you rely on for washing clothes, doing dishes, and showering. When your system is over ten years old, you are using it every day on borrowed time, hoping it doesn’t malfunction while you’re using it. If the average system lasts about eight years, by using one that is a decade old, you’re sacrificing reliability.
If you’re trying to maximize the lifespan of your water heater, and you’re hoping to get as many years as possible out of your water heater, it can come back to haunt you. Don’t wait for your water heater to fail at the least convenient time.
Comprehensive Water Heater Services Offered by Wallner Plumbing Heating & Air
The water heater specialists at Wallner Plumbing Heating & Air provide a wide variety of water heater options when you are ready to upgrade your system. From larger capacity traditional models to tankless systems, we can help you select the perfect new unit to meet your household demands. When you’re ready to upgrade to a new water heater, you can’t go wrong when working with the team of professionals at Wallner Plumbing Heating & Air.
Call Wallner Plumbing Heating and Air today! We are available to answer all your questions about water heaters and how to choose the right model for your home. You can reach us by phone at (530) 223-5622 to schedule an appointment or inspection.
