A water heater is an extremely important appliance we have in our homes, and it’s crucial to check have it drained and maintained on an annual basis. Water heaters tend to rot from the inside out, and, unfortunately, it’s hard for a homeowner to see that.
When we replace water heaters, most of the time it’s due to a leak. Sometimes the leak is slow and we catch it early enough to prevent a major problem, but other times we find a basement covered in water, because the heater has either rotted out or the crack has gotten so big that water has begun to leak.
To prevent that type of failure in your water heater, you’ve got to get an idea of its age and condition. I recommend calling a professional plumber, like MoreVent, to come out to your home.
We’ll first decide whether or not it’s a good time to flush your system, which will remove it of debris and extend its life. Secondly, we need to check your anode rod, the component that attracts the bad particulates within the water.
After we’ve flushed your system and checked and/or replaced your anode rod, we’ll look at the age and condition of the system to help guide you. It may be in your best interest to replace it altogether.
Most people don’t know that average life expectancy of a water heater is about ten years.  Once cross that ten-year mark, your chances of replacing it increase dramatically.
Ten years goes by a lot faster than you think! Make sure you give your water heater a fighting chance by having it maintained and checked annually.