Water Heaters - How You Can Extend Their Life

Water heaters aren't the cheapest appliances to buy, so it only makes sense to get as much use out of them as possible. You don't want to push your luck beyond sensible restrictions, of course (unless you like the idea of cleaning up a terrible leak), but you want to at least get what you were promised. Thankfully, there are several ways in which you can do just that. Take good care of the device and follow these tips, and you may be able to get as much as fifteen or twenty years out of the appliance. Here are some practices you can implement.

Install a Second Anode Rod

One of the best ways to increase the lifespan of water heaters is to fit them with a second anode rod. Typically speaking, this is best done by a plumbing professional, if not the service company that sold you the appliance to begin with. Why does this help? The anode rod is designed to attract the substances that create corrosion and rust on your tank. Instead of corroding the tank, the rod takes the punishment. It acts as a sacrificial lamb for the good of your tank. Since corrosion is the main thing that will end your tank's life early, it is one of the most effective things you can do to extend your use.

Expansion Tank

It's estimated that those homeowners working on a closed system can potentially give their water heaters double the life span by implementing an expansion tank. Here's why. When water is heated by the appliance, the liquid expands. This is just a fact of science. If you're working on a closed system, that expanded water has nowhere to go. It just starts taking a toll on the tank from the very first heat. Over time (and it won't take that long), both your tank and your plumbing system is going to suffer from this expansion and contraction.

Regular Maintenance

An appliance of any kind benefits from regular maintenance, and water heaters are no exception. Talk to a service company and see what they can do for you on a yearly basis. Have them come out, do an inspection, clean the tank, and do anything else they can do that will keep the appliance running smoothly and efficiently. If you're the type of person who prefers to wait until something goes wrong before fixing it, you could be buying a new system before you really want to.