How long water heaters last
The U.S. Department of Energy gives storage (tank) water heaters a life of 10 to 15 years and most tankless units more than 20 (DOE).
Hard water is what most often cuts that short. Minerals settle as sediment at the bottom of a tank, the burner or element has to heat through it, and the steel works harder. A tank that is drained and flushed now and then, with its anode rod checked, tends to reach the long end of the range.
How to tell how old yours is
The rating plate on the side of the tank lists the model, capacity and serial number. Some manufacturers print the manufacture date; most encode it in the first characters of the serial number, and each brand uses its own code.
The quickest route is a photo of the plate. Send it with the estimate form and we will read the date for you.
Signs the tank is failing
- Water seeping from the tank itself. The glass lining and steel have failed. This is the one sign that always means replacement.
- Rust-coloured hot water while the cold runs clear: the inside of the tank is corroding.
- Rumbling or popping as it heats: heavy sediment boiling under the water.
- Running out sooner than it used to, or water that never gets as hot: sediment taking up volume, or a failing element or dip tube.
- Water on the floor around the base. Find the source first. A drip from a fitting or from the relief valve pipe is different from the tank leaking. A relief valve that discharges repeatedly can mean excess pressure, which is what an expansion tank prevents.
Repair or replace?
On a young unit, a single failed part (an element, a thermostat, a gas control) is usually worth repairing. On a tank past ten years with a leak, rust or recurring problems, the money is better spent on a new unit.
We replace and install water heaters; we do not offer repair visits. If yours is near the end, we give you a free, itemized estimate for the replacement and haul the old unit away. If it only needs a part, a repair from a plumber is the cheaper call. More on this in repair or replacement.
If it is leaking now
- Close the cold-water valve on the pipe above the heater.
- Gas heater: turn the gas control to Off. Electric heater: switch off its breaker.
- Put a pan or towels under the leak and move anything that can be damaged.
- If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility from outside.
Planning the replacement
Three decisions come first: the type (a new tank, tankless or a heat pump; see tankless vs tank), the size, and whether anything in the installation needs bringing up to current requirements, such as an expansion tank, the relief valve piping or a drain pan.
Water heater replacements generally need a permit and an inspection in Northern Virginia; the permit guide lists the office and the published fee for each jurisdiction.
Then compare quotes line by line. Our estimate lists the unit, removal, haul-away and every code item the house needs, each with its price. See water heater replacement in Northern Virginia.