Ours is 7 years old. Last year we turned it up to the "HOT" setting when we noticed that the water wasn't getting that hot. I just turned it up to the A position today after we noticed that the water wasn't all that hot. The D position says "Very Hot" and has a scalding warning next to it. I know that the further you keep it below the "HOT" setting the more money you save. It's only my wife and I, not a big family so the demand on the water heater is not that great.
Thank-you.
2006-09-16 08:33:14 · 7 answers · asked by shotsofnature 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Water heaters typcally fail due to rust (corrosion between steel and copper pipes) or burning hot spots & pinholes in at the bottom of the tank due to accumulation of sediment from hard water. The latter sounds like your situation.
If you have been draining & flushing your heater every year, you would have removed a lot of the sediment and increased the life of your tank. Like the bottom of a tea kettle, sediment is just the precipitated minerals which drop out of hard water as it is heated. As the layer of sediment builds up, it forms an insluating layer at the bottom of the tank, requiring you to keep turning up the flame to heat the water. It sounds like you are getting near the end of the water heater's life.
Just keep checking the tank for water leaks at the bottom - a too hot flame will eventually burn a pinhole and then it's time to replace the water heater.
On your next tank, you might consider two features - a self-cleaning cold water inlet pipe (a curved pipe which stirs up the sediment, rather than a straight-down cold water pipe) and a long-warranty tank which uses either two or one large sacrificial anode to control corrosion in the tank for a longer time.)
Hope this helps.
2006-09-16 09:03:12 · answer #1 · answered by Tom-SJ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
About 10 years.
2006-09-16 08:35:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kenmore Water Heater Warranty
2016-11-07 00:56:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on the internal quality of parts in a water heater, it should last between 8 to12 years. if your water is 1 to 3 years old, please to go to the immediate thought of replacing your water heater. can I please suggest to inspect and/or replace your water heater's thermal cuple, this should be located near your water heater's start pilot. This part regulates a water heater hot/cold temperature and tells your pilot when to start, this is a part between $10-$35 and requiring only of Teflon tape and 3 8's wrench should take you 30 minutes to replace. Do you live in a very cold climate because i also suggest a water heater jacket that you can buy at any local Hardware store for more than $30. You can go as far as even buying insulation material for your hot outlet pipe, but if you need a new water heater and you are concerned about saving money please look into a water heater called "Insta-Hot" it looks like a steal box 2 1/2ft in height a foot and a half in weight and 1ft in depth. i recommend this type of water heater for everyone. It eliminates for a holding tank of water that needs to be constantly boiled. Hopes this helps.
2006-09-16 09:10:42 · answer #4 · answered by Yahoo Anwers 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've known them to last MANY, MANY years. Elements go out, though. Any time you have to replace an element, you'll have to drain the tank. When you drain the tank, flush it out well to get the sediment out. The harder your water is, the more sediment and the more often the elements will burn out! This statement was for ELECTRIC water heaters. Now, if you've a gas heater, you should periodically drain it, also for the sediment. When the burner is acting up..........replace the unit. It too, could last many years.
2006-09-16 11:17:02 · answer #5 · answered by fibreglasscar 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
About 10 years is normal
2006-09-16 08:47:25 · answer #6 · answered by MeInUSA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just checked my water heater...1994. I guess 21 years (outside) is pretty amazing, never drained it either!
2015-12-08 15:53:53 · answer #7 · answered by susan s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋