Tips to Extend Your Water Heater’s Lifespan

There’s no getting around it, replacing your water heater can be a significant expense, Depending on the size and type of water heater, and other factors like labor costs and permits, you can easily spend $2,500 to $3,000 replacing your current tank heater, and substantially more if you choose a tankless system.

Given those costs, and the current financial difficulties faced by many families, we fully understand why you want to get the maximum amount of service out of your current system, and your friends at Liberty Plumbing offer the following thoughts and suggestions.

Conducting Proper Maintenance

Conducting the proper maintenance of your water heater is essential in extending its lifespan, and here are three things you should do.

• Drain your tank – At least once a year, drain your tank to prevent corrosion and the collection of sediment in the bottom of the tank, forcing the tank to work harder. Your owner’s manual should provide instructions on how to properly drain the tank. The task should only take about a half-hour or so, but if you’re not a handy do-it-yourselfer, your plumber will be glad to provide assistance.
• Replace a badly corroded anode rod – This rod hangs in your tank, and its purpose is to prevent rust. When the tank is drained, the anode rod should be inspected and replaced if badly corroded.
• Insulate the tank – This is a simple DIY task. You can get an insulation blanket at your hardware store or home supply center and wrap it around your tank. This easy to complete task can improve the efficiency of your water heater by up to 40%, and over a year’s time that can produce significant savings in your utility bills.

Getting Needed Repairs

Water heater problems do not necessarily mean you need water heater replacement, and some issues can be easily repaired by your plumber. As an example, the control valve or thermal regulator may give out in a gas water heater, even though the rest of the heater is still in good condition. Replacing these parts can restore your water heater to its normal working condition, eliminating the need for complete replacement.

Another example would be replacing the temperature or pressure relief valve in an electric water heater to get it operating normally again.

Simple repairs like these can extend the life of your water heater for several years.

Maintenance, Repair, and Replacement Services from Liberty Plumbing

We hope you’ll find these suggestions helpful in extending the lifespan of your water heater. We also hope when you need professional maintenance and repair services, you’ll call on us at Liberty Plumbing.

Properly serviced and maintained, your tank water heater should have a life expectancy of 10-15 years, and a tankless water heater, 20 years or more.

If you’re having any problems with your existing water heater or would like to schedule maintenance services, don’t hesitate to call us at Liberty Plumbing. And of course, if your water heater needs to be replaced, we can handle that as well.

At Liberty Plumbing we’re here for you, and our licensed, experienced plumbers will be right over to assist you!