What's the average lifespan of a water heater?
For a tank water heater, eight to twelve years is a common lifespan. A tankless unit usually lasts longer, as long as it is descaled and serviced every year.
Two things cut that short. Hard water leaves scale and sediment that the burner or element has to heat through. And an anode rod that is never checked eventually wears away, after which the water starts eating the tank itself.
The anode rod is a metal rod inside the tank that corrodes on purpose so the steel lining does not. Replacing it when it is spent is one of the cheapest ways to add years to a tank.
To know where yours stands, read the age off the label or the serial number. Memory is usually wrong by a few years. Under eight years, most faults are worth repairing. Past ten, a repair is often money better put toward the replacement.
Want it looked at?
Send us a photo of the label and we will tell you roughly how old the heater is and what to expect.