A professionally installed and maintained water heater can last 10 to 12 years. Water heaters left in service longer have lost their energy efficiency and are subject to causing a flooded home! Click here to find the age of your water heater today.

Under normal operating conditions, your pilot should only have to be lit once, during installation and initial set up. If you are experiencing pilot outages, please contact Hotwaterexpress.com.

Water heaters can be broken down into two categories based on fuel source, i.e. gas or electricity. There are two main types of water heaters available: standard tank water heaters and tankless water heater systems.

Due to sediment build-up in the tank, it is a good rule of thumb to flush your water heater tank at least once a year.

A thermal expansion tank is a pressurized tank that’s installed on your cold-water supply line. The tank contains a pressurized bladder. As water expands, it pushes against this bladder giving the increased volume a place to go, preventing rapid pressure increases due to thermal expansion. Plumbing codes require an expansion tank on a closed water supply system (containing a check valve or other back flow preventer). Manufactures require the installation of a thermal expansion tank to protect your water heater tank from thermal expansion to keep the tank warranty intact.

You should upgrade to a new water heater every 10-12 years for tank water heater, and 20 years for a tankless system.

It may be time to have a new water heater installed if strange noises or smells coming from your system or discoloration appearing in your water, uneven water temperature or flow, and increasing energy bills all may be factors that it may be time to have your water heater upgraded.