How to Prolong the Life of Your Water Heater

Apr 7
09:07

2012

Aloysius Aucoin

Aloysius Aucoin

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Did you know that the average water heater is good for approximately ten years? A tankless heater can last at least twenty to thirty years, if it is taken care of. No matter what kind of tank you have, there are some things you can do to increase their efficiency and extend their life.

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Although the majority of tanks are made with steel,How to Prolong the Life of Your Water Heater Articles glass or porcelain, some of the newer models are now tank less. Unlike the ones with tanks that are made from various materials, there is no need to worry about oxidation and deterioration happening. If you are one of the many who have they typical kind of water heater, then at some point you may have to deal with your tank leaking. Many people do not notice any small leaks until they become big enough to affect the performance of your appliance. If you find that your tank is leaking, turn the water off by shutting off the water valve that is connected to it.

Many people do not replace their water heater until it is well after the ten-year mark. It is not unusual for a replacement to occur at least fifteen or twenty years down the line after it was first installed. It is not recommended that you keep your appliance after the ten-year mark. Since the average tank decreases in its efficiency because of the amount of eroded material has built up in the tank, it needs to be replaced after ten years. There are a few things that you can to extend the life of your water.

You can have an expansion tank put in so that you can increase the life of your appliance. Just think about it, when you warm up water, it increases in size. This can cause a lot of wear and stress on your appliance due to the constant changes in water pressure. An expansion tank can accommodate the rapid changes in water pressure so there is no need to worry about this appliance going bad and leaking anytime soon.

When it comes to cleaning your tank, if you have an older model tank, you want to have it cleaned at least one time per year. This will keep the amount of sediment in the tank down and increase the efficiency of your tank. If you have a newer model tank, check to self it is one that cleans itself.

You could also have a PRV installed. A PRV is a pressure regulator. It comes in handy if you live in an area where your water is supplied by high pressure. If your pressure is at least 90 psi's you can potentially damage your tanks and destroy your water heater in the process. If you get a PRV, the pressure is monitored and kept below 90 psi's.

A lot of places have water that contains a large amount of minerals. When there are a high percentage of minerals present, the water is referred to as hard. Hard water often leaves mineral deposits on everything that it comes into contact with. If this occurs in your tank, you will end up replacing the appliance much sooner than later. If you use a softener, it will reduce the amount of minerals and reduce the amount of deposits in your water heater.