Water pressure:  Testing the water pressure and flow rate in your own home is easy and inexpensive. A water pressure test gauge can be purchased for a few dollars and fit onto an outdoor faucet. When you turn on the hose faucet, the needle dial on the gauge will read your home’s water pressure. A measurement of 40 to 60 pounds per square inch (PSI) is normal, but anything less than 40 PSI proves that your home has low water pressure and the reasons should be explored further

Water flow:  Turn off all faucets and appliances and connect a garden hose to an outdoor faucet. Line up three empty five-gallon buckets and set your stopwatch to 60 seconds. When you’re ready, turn the hose at full blast, start the countdown and begin filling the buckets. Stop after 60 seconds and measure how much water you’ve captured in the buckets. If your hose fills two-and-half buckets, then your home’s water flow rate is about 12-1/2 GPM. An ideal flow rate falls between 6 and 12 GPM. If your flow falls short, this is another good reason to call your local municipality or plumber.

Sediment buildup: If you do not get your water heater flushed regularly (click me) sediment can build up in the bottom of your water heater and reduce the effectiveness and capacity of your home's water heater.

Dip Tube: A dip tube is a long tube that runs from the water line to the bottom of the water heater tank. It allows cold water to flow from the tube into the water heater, ensuring that it has time to be heated before flowing out of the tank. If the tube becomes cracked or broken, it can leak cold water directly into the hot water that is already in the tank.

Slab leak: Slab leaks occur in the water pipes under your home. If a leak develops in a hot water pipe under the slab, most of your hot water will leak under your house before it reaches your sinks or showers leaving you with little to no hot water for your household needs.

Usage/Capacity: It might seem obvious, but consider your timing for showering. Are there multiple people in the house using water? Has anyone else in the family just showered? Always allow 30 to 40 minutes after the last shower, or large water usage, to allow the heater to heat up the incoming cold water.

The simple answer to this question is: the average age of a water heater depends on water quality at your location, how often you use it and how often it is maintained.

Factors that affect the life expectancy of a water heater:

The type of water heater and where you are located:

While many say 8 to 12 years is the expected life for a standard gas-powered water heater, this range can change and be very dependent on where you are located.

The level of sediment in your tank affects the lifespan of your water heater. If you are in an area with sediment-heavy water, this will greatly depreciate its lifespan.

Electric models carry slightly better average life spans.

The frequency of maintenance of a water heater impacts how long it lasts. A regular maintenance schedule is recommended to ensure it remains in good condition.

Tank vs tankless:

 Since tankless heaters don’t handle the stress of storing and heating water (even when not in use), they can last possibly double the life of traditional gas or electric storage heaters.

To prevent your water heater breaking down on you, here are some signs that it is nearing its replacement age:

-Gurgling or popping noises: When sediment explodes inside your water tank, these noises will be a warning sign.

-Moisture or puddles of water around the tank: These can be signs of a leak.

-Water quality: If you suddenly notice the hot water you use looking or feeling different—these can often be the first sign of needing a new heater.

When it comes time to shop for a new hot water heater, let Arrigoni Plumbing help you make an informed choice in your investment.

-Stains: Stains on the walls or below where the pipes are located is a very common indicator that the pipes need to be replaced. In the bathrooms, check underneath the sink to see if the surrounding walls have any stains.

-Leaks: Be on the lookout for leaks. This is probably the most obvious, and it could lead to expensive repairs if not addressed promptly. Leaks are often very easy to repair. Call your local plumbing expert to check for leaks and offer repair and replacement options.

-Water: If you enjoy taking baths, be sure to check the color of the water. If your water appears to be a brownish-yellow color, this could be an issue with your water heater or it could be an indicator that your pipes have problems. Rusting pipes can cause discoloration in your water, and it’s important to call an expert to get your water back to clean and clear as soon as possible.

-Know Your Pipes: Knowing what types of pipes you have is very important for replacement decisions. If you are unsure about what type of pipes you have in your home, call an expert today to get a full inspection of your plumbing and schedule a maintenance check to be sure that your pipes are in tip-top shape.

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