The Life Span of a Conventional Unit

Do you have a conventional unit to heat your water? Are you wanting to know how long it is going to last you? In this post, we will look answer this question and let you know how you can tell if your system might need replacing soon.  
A standard tank-based system will last around about 8 to 15 years. That is pretty good going considering that elements inside the tank are constantly submerged in water. However, over time corrosion will set in – there is nothing that can prevent that. 
If the corrosion is caught in time, before the rust particles get a chance to build up inside the tank, you will get away with just replacing the element. If you don’t catch it in time, the rust will damage the lining of the tank. If this happens, the tank is on its way out. 
Now, knowing the age of your existing system is easy if you had it installed. If you didn’t, you would need to do some detective work. Start by checking the serial number of the tank. At the front of this number, you will find letters ranging from A – L. 
Each letter represents the month of the year that is in the same spot. So, A is for January, B is for February, etc. More important are the two numbers that come directly after that because this will let you know what year it was manufactured in. 
So, if your serial number starts with B12, for example, your tank was made in February of 2012. If you are not sure, or the serial number does not seem to make sense, look for a brand name and see what information you can find on the company’s site. 
Knowing what to look out for will help you identify when you might need to start saving for a new system. The signs to look for include: 

• Rumbling or banging noises: This is usually as a result of sedimentary build-up and can be a particular problem in hard water areas. In these areas, calcium builds up and settles on the bottom. When this layer hardens, the banging sound will be the result. 
• Colorful Hot Water: This could mean that you have a rust problem. Just make sure that it is only with the hot water that you have this issue. 
• Lower water temperatures: If water temperatures have dropped even though you haven’t changed the thermostat, it could be a sign that you need to replace the system. 
• Pooling of water: If water is building up around the base of the tank, this could be a sign that it is cracked or that the liner is damaged. Do check the fitting first – sometimes tightening them, or replacing them will be all that is needed to get them working as they should again. 

Generally speaking, the better you have maintained the tank, the longer it should last, but there are a host of other factors that can also influence this – how often the tank is used, what chemicals are in the water and even your climate can influence how well your tank will last. If you've got questions, call our experts here at Savannah Water Heater Co. -- we're happy to help.