After a stressful day, there’s nothing like coming home to a hot shower. To get that hot water to your shower, though, you need a reliable water heater in your Arlington Heights, IL, home. Whether you have a new water heater or you can’t remember the last time that it was replaced, it’s good to know how many more years you can expect to get out of your water heater. By using these insights from IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning Co., you can get a pretty good idea of your water heater’s future.
Average Lifespan
If you install a brand-new water heater with new fittings, you can typically expect to get 8-12 years out of the water heater. As you will see, though, this range can vary widely based on a number of factors. When you purchase a water heater from IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning Co., make sure to choose the most efficient model that you can afford. Since you’ll be using your water heater frequently, an efficient model will help you save money on your utility bills.
Water Hardness
A key factor in the life expectancy of a water heater is the hardness of your water supply. The more dissolved minerals that are in the water, the more quickly the metal in a water heater will begin to disintegrate. The good news is that water heaters contain a rod of metal called an anode rod that attracts harmful minerals so that the metal of the water heater tank doesn’t suffer. However, once the protective rod is gone, the metal that makes up the tank will begin to rust and decay.
Quality of Installation
When you install a new water heater in your home, it’s important to carefully choose your plumber. That’s because the quality of the water heater installation makes a big impact on the lifespan of your water heater. For example, if the supply lines aren’t attached correctly to the top of the tank, you could experience leaks that could cause the outside of the tank to rust. Therefore, to ensure safety and longevity, it’s a good idea to have an experienced contractor like IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning Co. perform your water heater installation.
Quality of Water Heater
As you consider which type of water heater to purchase, know that the amount you pay makes a big difference. More expensive water heaters feature larger anode rods to give you more years of corrosion-free operation. Plus, high-end water heaters often have energy-saving settings so that you can customize when the water heater operates to help prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
Location of Water Heater in Home
If you’re willing to spend a little more on the installation of your water heater, it may make sense to consider moving the location of your water heater in your home. That’s because a water heater that’s in an insulated space tends to last longer than one that’s in an uninsulated and unconditioned area of your home. This is due to the temperature differences between the outside and inside of the water heater. These temperature differences cause the metal in the water heater tank to expand and contract, potentially leading to a tank failure after many years of changes.
Type of Water Heater
By far, the most common type of water heater that we sell at IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning Co. is the traditional storage-tank water heater. However, another type of water heater, called a tankless water heater, can last far longer than a typical water heater. Since these water heaters don’t store much water, there is far less potential for corrosion. This means that they can last for up to 20 years, allowing you to spread your higher initial investment over a much longer time.
Plus, tankless water heaters offer the advantages of unlimited hot water, a smaller carbon footprint, and better energy efficiency. The only potential downside is that you typically need to upgrade your gas or electric supply line since tankless water heaters require a lot of energy. When you’ve got the pros at IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning Co. on your side, though, this challenge isn’t a problem.
So Much More Than Water Heaters
At IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning Co., we install a lot of water heaters all over Arlington Heights, IL, and its neighboring communities. You may not know, though, that we can also take care of your furnace and air conditioner with installation, repair, and maintenance services. Plus, we can work on boilers, humidifiers, and a lot of other types of home climate comfort equipment. Our satisfied customers have kept us in business for over 70 years, allowing us to earn an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau along the way. To learn more about water heaters for your home, contact us at IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning Co. today.
