Hot Water Heater Basics
*Your water heater isn't bleeding to death, but it's rusty and not long for this world.
No matter how old the water heater is, no matter how carefully we avoid periodically draining the tank to prevent mineral sediment, it always comes as a bit of a shock when we turn on the shower, and the hot water comes out cold. Eventually, a water heater will have to be repaired or replaced. It's better if 'finally' takes a long time to arrive. Here are some of the considerations a homeowner needs to keep in mind for their water heater:
Age
If your tank is over ten years old, it’s a fair certainty that time is short. On the off chance that you have recently moved into the home and don’t know the age of the tank, it’s worth your while to find out, since many water heater tanks come with an extensive warranty.
The serial number label info
Water heater labels are a wealth of information, including how much hot water the unit will cost you fiscally, etc. The serial number has a code hidden within it; it's a code which tells the date of the water heater’s manufacture. It may require a visit to the manufacturer’s website to decipher the date, but could be worthwhile if the tank isn’t out of warranty yet.
Three things
There are three things which age a water heater tank. The first is pressure. The hot water expansion tank, a creative, yet simple way for hot water to expand and contract in the tank without causing damage to your water heater or pipes. This is now in the building code in most areas, since backflow prevention devices have made it impossible for hot water from the tank to back up into the municipal water supply.
Mineral sediment is another cause of hot water tank failure since it will compromise the heating element. A homeowner can minimize sediment by draining the tank completely about once a year. Some tank manuals call for the siphoning off of one gallon on a monthly basis.
High heat is also hard on the water heater. Since heating is its job, you wouldn’t think that would be the case, but it is. The damage from high heat becomes evident when the liner cracks and the water bleeds into the steel tank. The tank quickly rusts, which sometimes makes the hot water come out rust-colored.
*Your water heater isn't bleeding to death, but it's rusty and not long for this world.
The little blue tank is a hot water expansion tank and will prevent pressure damage to your hot water tank and plumbing.
Warning signs
Sometimes hot water heaters show us when they’re at the end of their life. If they leak, that’s an obvious sign that they’re done providing us with endless buckets of hot water. But, if the water develops a funny taste or smell, this could also mean the tank is nearing the end of its life. In some cases, the water may not be as hot as it once was, or the recovery period might be greater than it was before. If the unit begins to make banging noises, this is also a symptom of ultimate demise.
When the time comes to replace the tank, an assessment of its performance is in order before replacing it with a new one. Whether the tank is gas or electric, the friendly, licensed and bonded local plumber can replace it.
