Looking For A New Hot Water Tank? Things To Think About

When it comes to the various appliances in your home, one of the most frequently underrated and misunderstood is the water heater. In fact, many homeowners don't give their hot water heater a second thought until they don't have any hot water. The truth is that there are some things that you should know about your hot water heater to ensure that you get the best possible results from it. Here's a look at what you need to know.

Be Mindful Of Lifespans

Whether you recently bought your home or you haven't replaced your water heater in the last decade or so, it's important that you give some thought to your home's water heater age. Most water heaters last for a decade or so before they begin to markedly deteriorate. You'll notice that there may be some corrosion around the tank, discoloration in your hot water, or water that just isn't as hot as it used to be.

If you're seeing issues like this, you should reach out to a water heater technician for a thorough assessment. They can determine if a system flush will restore the proper operation or if your water heater is simply nearing the end of its usable life and needs to be replaced.

Make Sure It's The Right Size

Before you replace an aging hot water heater, you need to think about what size is the right one for your needs. Consider whether or not you've been running out of hot water frequently with your current hot water heater. If so, that means the one you have now is too small for your family's hot water demand. You'll want to talk with your hot water heater installation contractor about going up to a larger size.

However, if you're not having trouble with hot water capacity, there's no need to increase the size of your hot water tank unless you're anticipating increased demand. Investing in a hot water heater that's larger than you need can actually be a waste of energy because your hot water tank will use more energy to maintain temperature on a larger volume of water.

Moderate The Temperature

Another thing to remember with your hot water tank is that the temperature it's set to can contribute to not only your energy costs but also wear and tear on the tank. The higher the temperature, the more energy consumption and wear your hot water tank will experience trying to maintain that temperature. Don't assume that a new hot water heater is automatically set at the ideal temperature. Talk with your contractor about the proper temperature setting to ensure that you're maximizing your hot water tank's use while also getting the hot water that you need.

These are some of the most important things to think about when it comes to hot water tank replacement and installation. Talk with a hot water heater installation contractor today for more guidance.