The worst time to discover that your water heater is dead is
when you are in the shower with your head full of shampoo. Water heaters are
often taken for granted and pushed beyond the expected lifespan. Knowing when a
water heater is about to die or can’t work properly, can not only avoid ice
showers but also save money at the same time.

Conventional gas and conventional tank-style water heaters
are cylindrical appliances that heat and store a specific amount of water,
usually 40 to 80 gallons. It is expected useful life is 10 and 15 years. Of
course, this useful life depends on the source of water, maintenance and
various other factors. Tankless water heaters are different from tank type
heaters because they do not store water, but use a series of pipes surrounded
by heating elements. Often more expensive than tank heaters, tankless water
heaters can last up to 30 years. If you are planning to buy a water heater then
you must check all these things and choose the one as per your requirements.

Probably the most dangerous enemy of a water heater is
negligence. In general, water heaters are installed in the basement of houses
and are easily forgotten when it comes to maintenance. If you have not paid
attention to your water heater, you should mark your calendar for a water
heater check to avoid damage that might occur along the way. If water heaters
are not maintained, leaks can develop in them. These leaks can destroy a heater
externally.

The sediment is created when the hard water is heated. It
accumulates in the lower part of the water heater tank and begins to insulate
the lower part of the anode guard. In gas water heaters, it causes the base of
the water tank to overheat and melt the glass protective coating, while in the
electric type models, the lower elements burn and bury in the sediment. The
accumulation of sediment should be a major concern for people because if it
accumulates too much, the warranty for commercial water heaters can be
cancelled. You should perform regular maintenance of your water heater.

An important aspect in the maintenance of a geyser is the
maintenance of its sacrificial anode. For more than 60 years, it has been used
as a key part of the protection against the oxidation of a tank. The
sacrificial anodes protect the interior of the water heaters against oxidation,
but with the passage of time, they stop performing their function effectively.
If they are not replaced when they are thinned to the cable, the tanks begin to
oxidize internally, which can cause leaks. It is also necessary to point out
that many times, water softeners accelerate the depreciation of this anode.
Normally, if you have a water heater with a 5-year warranty, you can wait five
years before checking the anode. But if you have a water softener installed in
your home, you should check the anode within five years.

Typical storage type water heaters draw air for combustion
and the quality of this air is really important. Bleach vapours, ammonia and
other acids near the water heater qualify as corrosive materials and can damage
your water heater. If the gas burner of the water heater sucks in those
corrosive fumes, the flame that will be created will also be corrosive. This
will begin to corrode the base of the water heater. Having corrosive materials
and gas-type water heaters in a confined space concentrates the fumes and would
prove even more damaging. Once the damage caused by corrosive fumes occurs,
your only option would be a water heater repair.

If all these factors are taken care of and the regular
maintenance of the water heater done, the water heater can perform
satisfactorily for a longer time.