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Most tank water heaters last somewhere between ten and fifteen years. Tankless units often last twenty years or more with regular maintenance. Those are averages, and the real answer for your house depends on the water, how well the tank was looked after, and a little luck. Here is how to tell where yours stands.
How to find your water heater’s age
Look at the manufacturer’s label on the side of the tank. Some labels show an installation or manufacture date outright. If yours does not, the date is hidden in the serial number. Many brands use the first four digits for the year and week or the month and year, and others use a letter for the month. If you cannot work it out, search the brand name with the words serial number date, or send us a photo of the label.
What shortens a water heater’s life
- Sediment. Minerals settle in the bottom of the tank, overheat the steel and make the burner work harder.
- A used-up anode rod. This metal rod corrodes so the tank does not. Once it is gone, the tank itself starts to rust.
- High water pressure. Constant high pressure stresses the tank and its fittings.
- Heavy demand. A tank that is too small for the household runs almost constantly.
Seven signs it is time to replace it
1. It is more than twelve years old
Age alone is not a reason to panic, but it changes the math. A repair on a thirteen-year-old tank is money spent on a heater that is close to the end.
2. Rusty or brown hot water
If only the hot water is discolored, the inside of the tank is rusting.
3. Water around the base
Check the fittings and valves first. If the water is coming from the tank itself, it cannot be repaired.
4. Rumbling or popping
That is sediment. We explain the noises in detail in our article on why a water heater pops or rumbles.
5. Hot water runs out faster than it used to
Sediment takes up room in the tank, or a heating element or dip tube has failed.
6. Repairs are adding up
One repair is normal. A second or third within a couple of years suggests the rest of the heater is wearing out too.
7. Rust on the tank or at the fittings
Corrosion at the top connections or along a seam usually means a leak is on its way.
Repair or replace?
If the heater is under eight years old and the problem is a part, such as a thermocouple, a heating element, a gas valve or a relief valve, repair usually makes sense. If the tank is leaking, replacement is the only option. In between, we will tell you honestly which way we would go if it were our house.
Why not wait until it fails?
Water heaters tend to fail at inconvenient times, and a tank that lets go can put forty or fifty gallons on the basement floor and keep running until someone shuts the water off. Replacing a heater that is clearly on its way out lets you choose the time and the unit instead of taking whatever is available that day.
Common questions
How long does a tankless water heater last?
Often twenty years or more, provided it is flushed regularly to remove mineral scale.
Can I make my water heater last longer?
Yes. Flush a few gallons from the tank once a year, have the anode rod checked every few years, and keep the temperature at about 120 degrees.
We install tank and tankless water heaters across Macomb County. See our water heater service or call (586) 943-4158 for a free estimate.
