Discussions

I know there are no guarantees as to how long a hot water tank will last before it gives out. Wondering what the average life expectancy is and if one should get it replaced before there is water all over the floor? Thanks

I'd like to have some feedback also - our tank is almost 12 years old - I do turn off the water to the tank if I'm going away for more than 24 hours. But our tank must be past it's "best before" date.

Have a hot water tank at my old business that is over 30 plus years old.I also had one replacement tank give out in less than a year at home...I would suggest to buy one of those pans that encompass the tank and drain into the sewer when the tank gives out.My opinion and i may be wrong..  

the elements will burn out before anything else nowadays. id say if you get 6 years on a cheapo tank your doing good.

For 25 years and have replaced our hot water tank twice.

I was told by a plumber that the average is ussally 10 years, but that was quite a while ago so maybe today they last longer. I gust replaced the one in my house and it only lasted a little over 9 years.

Over the years of having hot water tanks mine have jest lasted to the warranty is up . I swear they know how to make them only last so long now . Wow over ten years for a hot water tank is amazing .

If you aren't in Brandon and a smaller rural town, talk to your neighbours. Water quality can really make or break the life of a tank as well, and sadly, I don't think they last as long as they used too. The tank that was in a house for 25 years will be replaced by one that is lucky to last 10.

Started leaking at just over 4 years old. Pretty sad. If the tank hadn't started leaking, the fitting on the cold side would have blown soon.

With lots of experience behind this I can tell you that a gas hot water tank in Brandon will last you between five and seven years anything over and above that is gravy.As for electric hot water tanks you're looking probably closer to the 8 to 12 year range but that may be pushing it. You live in the country your tank will last you quite a lot longer but it will be full of shale on the bottom and the elements get burnt out quite quickly due to the mineral in the water. I would be proactive on a gas hot water tank in town and switch it anytime after six or seven years.it will save you a big mess of damage due to water. A good way to tell if your tank is on its way out is to check the inlet or outlet on the top to see if there is any corrosion, if there is I would change the tank as it it will probably go on you within the next year or so.

We replaced our gas tank in winter 2014 and was told then by the plumber that the average lifespan is 7-10 years in Brandon.

Different things can determine life span of tank. Like if you have a family of 3-4+ the life of the tank is a lot lower than one or two people. Also water usage is a factor as well. Both of the above will effect how much the burner will be on for. The more the burner is heating the bottom of the tank and venting through the flue of the tank, the weaker the steel gets.  
 
There are a few things you can do to per long the life of the tank. First is changing the sacrificial anode rod, every 3 years or so from the time of the install, I wouldn't recommend doing this on a old hot water tank. Also flushing out your tank every few months removed sediment and minerals from the bottom of the tank.

Does a natural gas hot water tank have an anode rod?

thecdnmole said "Does a natural gas hot water tank have an anode rod? "

It will depend on what brand of tank you have on where the anode rod is located. Some have a rod that is part of the hot water outlet. Some have a separate plug on the top of the tank with the anode rod attached to it.

It is a piece of cake changing a electric hwt. I remember changing an old cascade that had the bands instead of elements in the late nineties and it was close to 40 years old. Now I notice that most electric tanks last 10 to 12 years. Some might need just a nipple replaced and your probably good for a few more years if your handy at this stuff but to pay someone to fix it you are probably better off replacing the tank. Myself when given the choice I prefer to put the John Wood brand in. When I did quite a few of a local hardware store brand a few years back I can remember hearing the sound of glass rolling inside on these new tanks. I believe some of these only lasted 4 years most though would get past the warranty as mentioned.

These tanks are actually the least reliable tanks on the market, especially the gas ones. Bradford white is the best, also they come with a 8 year warranty you don't have to pay extra for.

all the hot water tanks i have had warranty was good for 5 years, and all i needed was the date of manufacture to proof it  
 
as far as how long one will last is very dependent on what is in your water, way more then how much you use it, heating elements can be replaced VERY easily for an electric tank, same with the relief valve and anode rod,  
 
for us on the farm tanks lasted very little 2-6 years but in our town we have known some to n=be past 20 years and ours is currently around 10

Does anyone have any experience with the Tankless Water Heaters?  
 
Are they worth the investment?

Drowsy said "Does anyone have any experience with the Tankless Water Heaters?     Are they worth the investment? "

i was going to get one put in one of my rentals years ago but the plumber recommended against it, at the time he said they dont work as well as they claim with our cold winters, I took his word for it so IDK

whoaskedyou said "These tanks are actually the least reliable tanks on the market, especially the gas ones. Bradford white is the best, also they come with a 8 year warranty you don't have to pay extra for. "

We had a Branford White one that was installed in the Fall of 2009 just before we moved into this house, and it went on us just this past Friday morning. We only needed to pay the install labour. We are a household of 6, and we cloth diaper etc so we use a lot of water, so it's worth the bit extra!

whoaskedyou said "These tanks are actually the least reliable tanks on the market, especially the gas ones. Bradford white is the best, also they come with a 8 year warranty you don't have to pay extra for. "

Why I don't like the Bradford White. Been a while since I have had anything to do with one but I believe the thermostat on these has just letter indicating the heat temperature. I like working with numbers so I like to see the thermostat with numbers on it indicating how hot. The blow off valve is on the top and pointed towards the back in most cases when installed very few are faced toward the front. Therefore you need a piece of pipe to come across the top with an elbow and more pipe going down towards the floor. With the john wood the blow off valve is on the side of the tank and position just a bit from the front of the tank. When these blow off which one would be easier to tell if they have been blowing off water. Especially in tight areas where they are tucked right in beside a furnace or washer/dryer stacked type unit. Last I don't find that they last any better then the John Wood so why install something that is going to be a pain to service.

We got 12 years out of ours. I did make quite a mess when it went. We also had neighbours with it happening around the same time so ask around and see if anyone has had there's go yet. When we installed the new one, we got him to put in a drain pan under so the next time we won't have a wet basement. And there was a 8 year warranty! Cost around $850 installed I believe.

18 years and going strong.(Gas)