Every Cape Town resident knows how important it is to have a decent, working water heater, especially when that rare cold front sets in. Besides, regardless of the weather or climate, nothing beats a long hot shower or a dip in a hot tub after a long and tiring day.
This is why every homeowner also knows that maintaining their water heater is truly essential. The last thing you want to happen is to one day wake up and realize that there’s no hot water coming out. Especially on busy days when the unexpected just isn’t welcome, it’s enough to ruin routines that you have probably established.
To prevent these surprises from happening, it is important to find out more about your water heater and what you can do to ensure it is working properly the majority of the time.
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What is the life span of a water heater?
Let’s start off by learning about how long your water heater should really last. This would more or less give you an idea whether the one you currently have needs to be replaced anytime soon.
On an average, a water heater lasts for around 8 to 12 years. However, there are also water heater owners who have been using theirs for more than 15 years, some even up to 30 years! And yes, they still get the same kind of service from their trusted water heater.
Knowing this, it only means that having a water heater installed does not always mean having to choose the most expensive system around, or the most modern. It’s all about how you maintain and take care of the system that allows it to last longer than expected.
How do you prolong your water heater’s life?
Here are a few tips that would help you prolong your water heater’s life:
Have it installed correctly
From the installation itself, you already have to be on guard. Make sure the water heater is installed correctly. If you have zero knowledge about heating systems, you can always ask questions – a good plumber knows how to entertain client questions and educates them about the ins and outs of their heating system. More often than not, heaters should be installed upright and should be placed in a well-ventilated area.
Make sure it is drained or flushed at least once a year
The more frequently you use your water heater, the higher the chances of sediments and lime building up inside. Eventually, an accumulation of these minerals would impede your water heater’s ability to work efficiently, and could eventually cause it to break down. In the same way that a car needs its oil changed regularly, your water heater also needs to be drained and flushed regularly.
Call a plumber the moment anything goes wrong
The moment you spot a leak or feel that the amount of hot water coming out is not as much as it used to, call your plumber right away. It may seem like a small problem for now, but if you put off fixing it, the problem will only get bigger and could cause your water heater to break down prematurely.
The loss of a water heater does not just mean additional costs, but chaos as well as you find you routine being shifted. Only proper maintenance can help you ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible, with your water heater staying alive and kicking for as long as you need it.
