How Long Do Water Heaters Last?

You can help extend your hot water system’s lifespan.

water heater Harrisburg, PA It’s pretty amazing how much of your family’s quality of life depends on an operational water heater. If your unit were to break down today, you wouldn’t be able to bathe comfortably, and cleaning dishes and laundry would become incredibly difficult.

At Koppy’s Propane, we handle countless water heater installations and repairs in Harrisburg, Hazleton, Carlisle and other communities in Central and Southeast Pennsylvania. Allow us to clarify how long a water heater will last and how you can extend its lifespan.

The Lifespan of a Water Heater

A traditional storage tank water heater usually lasts around eight to 12 years. Tankless systems tend to stick around longer — closer to 15 to 20 years. When older water heaters give out, it’s often due to internal corrosion or sediment buildup. Other culprits behind water heater failures can be improperly sized systems, poor venting and overly high water pressure. If you’re noticing mechanical noises from your unit, brown or rusty water from your taps or water collecting around your tank, your water heater may be on its last legs.

But don’t worry — there are three easy ways to help your water heater last longer!

1. Flushing Your Water Heater’s Tank

To reduce sediment buildup and internal corrosion in your tank, consider flushing it annually. This task can be easily performed on your own. While each water heater may differ in its flushing process, refer to your manual for detailed instructions. Here’s a general overview:

Set your unit’s burner to Off or Pilot. This will prevent damage to the tank after you drain it.
Shut off the cold-water supply valve.
Connect a garden hose to the drain valve and run it outside or to a drain that can accommodate a lot of hot water.
Open up a hot water tap in your home (or open the system’s pressure release valve) to prevent a vacuum from forming in your tank.
Open the water heater’s drain valve to drain the water and sediment through the hose.
Once the tank is empty, turn the cold water supply back on to flush the tank. Keep running water until there is no longer sediment coming out of the hose.
Close your drain valve, fill the tank and turn on the water heater’s burner.

2. Turning Down Your Unit’s Temperature Settings.

We have found that water heaters’ default factory settings are often hotter than they need to be. This can lead to scalding hot water and make your system work harder. Adjusting your water heater’s thermostat to a lower setting can slow down wear and tear on your unit.

The U.S. Department of Energy suggests a setting of 120ºF instead of the manufacturer’s default of 140ºF.

Want to save some extra money on propane and give your water heater a little rest? Set your unit to Vacation mode when you’re away to lower its burner usage.

3. Arranging Regular Water Heater Service from Koppy’s Propane.

Your water heater will stay reliable and efficient if it receives regular inspections and service from a professional HVAC technician. If it’s been a while since your water heater got some TLC, feel free to reach out to our office. One of our friendly, licensed Koppy’s Propane team members will inspect your equipment, clean the burner and take care of any issues that could cause breakdowns and shorten its lifespan.

The Koppy’s Propane team is here to help with all your water heater needs. Contact our office if you need water heater service or want to discuss your options for replacing an old hot water system.