How Long Does a Water Heater Last?

Written on: February 20, 2023

Trust AFC to help you upgrade to an energy efficient water heater

water heater replacement maine Choosing a new water heater can have a big impact on your home, your comfort, and your budget. Water heating is the second-largest user of energy in your home behind heating and cooling, accounting for about 20% of your home’s energy costs.

AFC can help you make sure that you get the right water heater for your home. We sell top-quality water heaters from the best manufacturers such as Rinnai, Bradford White, Buderus, and Oventrop. Our water heater installation is done by our team of licensed service technicians and in-house plumbers.

We also provide water heater repair and maintenance services, and our affordable Comfort Plans help protect your water heater. All of our work is backed up by the AFC Comfort Guarantee.

If your water heater is getting on in years, now is the time to get in touch with AFC to begin planning for its replacement. You don’t want to wait for your water heater to fail before you decide to replace it. You will not only be rushed into making an important decision during a stressful time, but you may also have to deal with the hassles and costs of cleaning up water damage is your water heater’s tank fails.

Corrosion of your tank from the inside out thanks to sediment buildup inside the tank is the most common cause of water heater failure.

Life expectancy of water heaters

The average life expectancy of conventional storage water heaters with a tank is eight to 10 years. How long your water heater will last depends on several factors, including how well it has been maintained over the years.

Here’s how to find out how old your water heater is if you are not sure of its age:

Look for the water heater’s serial number. It is usually located on top of the unit. It will start with a letter followed by a series of numbers. The letter indicates the month in which it was manufactured (“A” for January, “B” for February, etc.), with the immediately following numbers being the year. So, if your water heater’s serial number starts with “H14,” the “H” is for August, and the “14” is for 2014, meaning that your water heater was manufactured in August of 2014.

Age isn’t the only factor that determines whether you need a new water heater. If your water heater is exhibiting any of these issues, it’s time to give AFC a call to talk replacement.

  • hot water turning cold suddenly
  • an inexplicable increase in energy usage and costs
  • difficulty draining the water when you flush the water heater tank
  • water or damp spots on the floor under or around the water heater tank
  • strange noises like rumbling, banging, or scraping when the water heater is running
  • rusty water coming out of the tap when you use hot water

Benefits of tankless water heaters

Replacing your old water heater is an outstanding opportunity to make a smart investment in your home and your comfort by choosing a propane tankless water heater.

By investing in a propane tankless water heater, you can save up to a lot on your monthly water heating bills compared to an electric model! Not only will this help reduce energy costs, but it’s also an environmentally conscious option that helps protect our planet.

With a conventional storage water heater with a tank, the only hot water you have is what’s in the tank. And that water is heated and reheated all day and all night, so you have hot water when you need it. That consumes a lot of energy.

A tankless water heater, on the other hand, only heats water when you need it, slashing your water heating energy use dramatically. Also, it keeps heating water for you as long as you need it!

Are you ready to replace your home’s water heater? AFC is here for you! Set up your free estimate today.