How Long Do Water Heaters Last?
Burt’s Reliable installs premium traditional and indirect-fired water heaters.
Few surprises are more unwelcome than having the water in your shower suddenly turn icy cold or seeing gallons of water pouring out of a broken water heater.
An unexpected water heater failure is bad news across the board. Failing storage tank water heaters can cause significant water damage in your home. Plus, you will have to suffer through chilly showers and handwashing dishes in cold water until you can arrange a water heater replacement.
At Burt’s Reliable, we perform water heater installations throughout Long Island’s North Fork and East End. It’s always a better situation when we can help a homeowner choose an efficient hot water product while their current unit is still working. If someone comes to us right after their water heater fails, we’ll move heaven and earth to get a new unit in place for them quickly — but their selection might be limited.
Educating yourself on how long water heaters last is an excellent way to anticipate a water heater failure. Burt’s Reliable can help.
Lifespan of a traditional water heater
Traditional water heaters have storage tanks that — typically in the range of 36 to 46 gallons for a single-family home. They’re the most common (and generally the least expensive) options for residential hot water. With these units, you can expect a lifespan of about eight to 12 years.
A common cause of traditional water heater failure is tank corrosion. There’s an anode rod in your water heater tank called a sacrificial anode. It’s designed to corrode, so the inside of your water heater tank won’t. Eventually, the rod will deteriorate, and corrosive particles will eat away your tank instead.
Lifespan of an indirect-fired water heater
Indirect-fired water heaters use heat from your oil-fired boiler to generate hot water. This generally involves a heat exchanger filled with fluid that your boiler heats up. Indirect-fired units are exceptionally efficient. While they may be more expensive upfront than a traditional water heater, they make up for that by generating some of the lowest-cost hot water possible.
Indirect systems also have much better service lives, often exceeding 20 years.
Identifying a struggling water heater.
If you aren’t checking in on your water heater occasionally, a sudden failure will catch you off-guard. Here are some telltale signs that your hot water system may break down soon.
- Popping, banging, rumbling and other strange noises from the tank.
- Inconsistent water temperature
- Brown or rusty water from your tap
- Standing water at the base of the tank
- Decreased hot water pressure
Reach out to Burt’s Reliable if you notice any of these warning signs.
Burt’s Reliable is here to repair your water heater.
Our water heater repair team can assess the state of your aging equipment and see if it can be fixed. If we think your unit is on its last legs, our technicians will recommend high-quality products to improve your hot water generation and lower your energy bills.
Our team members are ready to help you. Contact Burt’s Reliable to arrange service.