From appliance age to frequency of maintenance, several factors can contribute to the performance and life expectancy of a hot water heater. Knowing what can affect the equipment's life span will help you avoid inconvenient breakdowns and costly emergency repairs. To that end, below is a brief guide to which conditions are common causes for concern. 

Equipment Age 

With proper care, traditional tank water heaters are engineered to last between eight and 12 years. As the system gets older, the anode rod that protects the interior lining will start to wear. When this happens, corrosive materials can settle at the bottom of the unit and cause damage. On-demand, tankless models will last 20 years or longer with routine care. Although these models don’t have tanks or anode rods, they can also suffer from corrosion over time. To determine whether it’s reaching its expiration date, look at the serial number on the appliance to see when it was manufactured. 

Maintenance

To ensure a healthy supply of water for all your household’s washing and laundry, it’s important to drain approximately a quarter of the tank two or three times a year. Doing so will remove sediment buildup before it can puncture the container’s inner lining. If you have fallen behind on maintenance, it could cut the lifespan of the system short. 

Household Demands 

When shopping for a hot water heater, it is important to get one properly sized to satisfy the needs of everyone in the household. If the appliance is too small to accommodate someone doing laundry in the basement, while other people take showers in upstairs bathrooms, for example, it could buckle under the pressure. Trying to perform these tasks might eventually lead to premature failure.

If your hot water heater is on the fritz, the professional plumbers at Harding Plumbing and Heating in Perry, NY, will provide the necessary solutions to restore your system. If you want an upgrade, they also sell and install new appliances by the industry’s leading manufacturers. To schedule a plumbing service appointment in Wyoming County, call (585) 237-5561. Visit the company online to see what brands they carry, and follow them on Facebook for announcements, tips, and other news.