How Long Does a Water Heater Last?

The answer to the question, how long does a water heater last? depends on many factors, such as to the type of environment where the water heater is installed, the type of fuel source used to run the heater, how often the water heater is used, and if the water heater is serviced and maintained.

We’ve taken a look at the most common types of water heater to give you an idea of what to expect.

Gas Tank Water Heater

Undoubtedly one of the most common types of water heater in use today is the gas tank water heating system. This traditional type of water heater can be found in millions of homes and businesses around the world.

You can expect this type of water heater to last between 8 and 12 years. The most common reason for a gas tank water heater to fail is usually corrosion within the tank itself due to the fact that it is continually storing water, even when it is not being used.

Electric Tank Water Heater

This type of heating system is almost identical as the gas tank water heater system, the only difference being the fuel supply source. In this case electricity is the supply source but the stsoage system is the same. Water is stored in a tank continually and the same problem of internal breakdown of the tank arises.

You can expect this type of water heater system to last slightly longer than the gas tank system and tank life expectancy should be around 10 to 14 years.

Gas Tankless Water Heater

With a Gas tankless water heater system you will benefit from not having any standby water temperature heat losses that are associated with storage tank water heater systems because with this system the water is heated instantly, so you are only heating the water for the amount of time that the hot water faucet is open.

That makes this type of water heater much more economical to use which in turn makes for lower usage costs.

A gas tankless water should last for at least 20 years and if it is maintained and serviced as per the manufacturer’s recommendations, then possibly up to 30 years.

Electric Tankless Water Heater

Electric tankless water heaters operate in the same way as the gas tankless water heater systems do in the way that they only heat the water that is being called for from the open hot water faucet.

This is a more cost effective way of getting hot water than the traditional storage tank water heating systems of the past.

An electric water heater would be expected to last for over 20 years and with a maintenance and service schedule in place then a working lifespan of 30 years could be possible.



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