- 604.379.1266
- Trusted City Contractor
How long does a hot water tank last? Is it 10 years, 15 years, 25 years, or more? The answer to this question depends upon many factors, such as where you live and how you care for your hot water heater. This blog will explore the solution and enable you to assess the need for hot water tank repair in Coquitlam.
Variety of Water Heater Types and Their Operation
Like other equipment, water heaters can be of various sizes, configurations, and shapes. Commonly available water heaters are solar-powered water heaters, heat pump water heaters, tankless water heaters, and conventional tank water heaters. These water heaters could be powered by solar energy, electricity, propane, natural gas, and some older ones by oil. The working mechanism of a hot water heater encompasses heating the water stored in a tank and further releasing it as per the needs, such as laundry, cleaning dishes, and bathing. When the water in the tank diminishes, cold water starts pouring in. When the cold water starts coming in contact with a diminishing hot water supply, heating keeps the temperature hot. A dip pipe is the name of the apparatus that brings cold water. For electric water heaters, it is the electrical power used for heating the internal elements that make the cold water hot. Another pipe, called heat out, is used to raise the hot water to be released throughout the home.
Size, Usage, and Maintenance of Hot Water Tank
How long a hot water tank will last depends upon its size, the frequency of usage, and, most importantly, how well it is maintained. The commonly used 40-gallon hot water tank usually lasts 8 to 15 years. In comparison, larger water tanks with more water holding capacity above 50 gallons are expected to last 20 years. The catch is that hard water significantly decreases life expectancy compared to soft water. Why it happens? Hard water has Magnesium and Calcium compounds, which cause the build-up of scale in the internal tank parts. Scale takes up a significant volume of the pipes and hence starts blocking the path of water, thus slowing down the water supply efficiency.
Moreover, it will take significantly more energy to heat up a water tank with scale build-up. Hence, it will increase your bills. You should get your hot water tank repaired by a professional plumber at least once in two years. Not only will professionals ensure that the scale build-up is removed, but even the potential leaks could be fixed from occurring. Regular maintenance becomes more critical in case you have an electric water heater.
Maintaining your hot water tank regularly by professionals will ensure a longer life span. Maintenance tasks such as filter cleaning, drain hose cleaning, ensuring dirt is not clogging up, anti-scale measures, and leakage fixation are some preventive measures. Also, the professional will check that no rusting or corrosion occurs at the tank’s bottom. Any occurrence of damage to the tank should be promptly repaired.
For all your hot water tank repair needs in Coquitlam, you can trust the certified professionals of Super Standard Heating & Air Duct Cleaning. You can contact us to get your old water heater and hot water tank evaluated, and we will provide you solutions for all your hot water tank needs.
We are available at your service just a call away! You can also mail your query or receive a custom quote for your furnace cleaning needs. We look forward to associating on your furnace, air duct or any other heating equipment cleaning or repair requirement. If you have questions about our other services, pricing and more, speak to us today!