Water Heater Lifespan: Reading the Tank's Age
Most storage heaters give somewhere between eight and twelve years of service. Water quality, maintenance and installation all affect the number.
- Step-by-step, written from real jobs
- Tools to have ready and safe stopping points
- Where to stop and hand it to a licensed plumber
- Licensed plumbing trade
- Camera before digging
- Written job notes
- Phone-only booking
Summary card
Most storage heaters give somewhere between eight and twelve years of service. Water quality, maintenance and installation all affect the number.
The date code is often in the serial number. Manufacturers use different formats; check their website.
The procedure
- Find the serial number on the label; the date code is often in it
- Look for rust at the base and around fittings
- Listen for rumbling, a sign of sediment
- Check that hot water lasts as long as it used to
- Test the relief valve carefully as the manual describes
Tools to have at hand
- Flashlight
- Phone camera for the label
Do it in this order
- 01
Locate the label sticker on the tank jacket
- 02
Read the serial number; the first characters usually encode the year
- 03
Look for rust at the bottom seam and around the fittings
- 04
Check the relief valve pipe for drips
- 05
Listen for popping or rumbling
Tank heaters here commonly give a decade or a bit more of service; hard water and skipped flushing shorten that.
Whitby Plumbing, from the job
Stop and phone a plumber if
- Water around the base
- Rust-coloured hot water
- Relief valve discharging
Notes for Whitby
Many Whitby homes rent their tanks. Rentals are maintained by the provider, so check your agreement before planning a replacement.
When the desk should take over
Plan a replacement when the tank is near the end of its range, or call immediately if the tank body leaks.