Diligently maintaining the water heater in your McClure, PA home will extend its lifespan and limit the likelihood of repair issues. When properly installed and well-cared for, these appliances typically last between 10 and 15 years. From proactively treating hard water problems to having your water heater’s tank flushed out, there’s a lot that you can do to boost its longevity and improve its safety. However, when it comes to avoiding scalding accidents and the dangers of tank ruptures, installing a new water heater may the safest choice. Read on to find out why some new water heaters are better-equipped for protecting both you and your loved ones.
New Water Heaters vs. Modern, Feature-Rich Water Heater Designs
Continuing to use a water heater after it’s reached the end of its lifespan could leave you standing ankle-deep in its contents. Older, storage-based water heaters hold gallons of piping hot water all of the time. They’re constantly under high levels of pressure and even slight changes in their conditions can result in dramatic temperature fluctuations.
Among the many potential hazards of aging water heaters are:
- Water or gas leaks
- Carbon monoxide (CO) exposure
- Fires
- Tank ruptures
- Explosions
Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of homeowners, tank-based water heaters invariably run down over time. Flushing tanks and replacing their anode rods won’t prevent all corrosion, and after years of service, many water heaters have tiny cracks in their glass liners and considerable build-ups of sediment at their bottoms. All of these things lower their efficiency, increase operating stress, and directly or indirectly lead to safety hazards. For instance, not only are aging, sediment-riddled tanks more likely to rupture, overheat, or explode, but their dwindling performance can also prompt homeowners to crank their temperatures up, well-beyond the recommended 120 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Understanding this, if your water heater has passed its expected lifespan, installing a new one is definitely going to be your safest choice. It’s always better to replace a storage-based water heater as it nears the end of its lifespan rather than waiting for age-related failure. In this instance, any new water heater is a safety improvement, but a newer and more modern design will offer the best level of protection.
Tankless Water Heating and How It Impacts Resident Safety
Many homeowners in McClure are replacing their older, storage-based water heaters with tankless options. Tankless water heaters offer on-demand heating. They don’t store any hot water at all. This eliminates the risk of having an aging water heater rupture and dump its steaming contents on your floors. It also eliminates the high heats and tremendous pressure that storage-based water heaters are always operating under.
Many tankless water heaters have up to four different temperature settings. Moreover, given that these units are slimmer and significantly smaller overall, they’re often both easier to access and easier to adjust. Smaller still, point-of-use water heaters are installed at every tap. This allows for customized temperature settings. For example, if you have young children in the building, you can easily set all point-of-use water heaters in high-traffic areas to relatively low but comfortable temperatures.
Switching Your Water Heater’s Fuel Source
Whether storage-based or tankless, many water heaters pose the risk of dangerous gas leaks and carbon monoxide exposure. If you have a gas-fired water heater in your home, CO gas is constantly produced due to incomplete fuel combustion. Although CO and other exhaust gases are routed outside, there’s the risk of having dangerous backdrafting events occur. Moreover, much like all other water heater components, venting systems can also sustain age-related damage and fail.
Purchasing a new water heater is an excellent opportunity to make home electrification improvements. Electric water heaters don’t produce exhaust gases and owning one doesn’t entail the risk of gas leaks. However, there are benefits and drawbacks to both tankless and storage-based water heating, and to both electric and gas-powered designs. To ensure consistently high levels of safety in your home and optimum water heater performance, it’s important to find the most needs-specific model.
Taking Advantage of Innovative Water Heater Features
If you haven’t replaced your current water heater in close to 20 years, you may be surprised by recent innovations in water heater design. Many new water heaters are equipped with smart thermostats that offer precise temperature control and remote programming. New, tank-based water heaters also have structural improvements at their pressure relief valves, anode rods, and temperature cut-off switches.
We proudly service McClure, PA and the surrounding communities. We offer first-rate heating, cooling, and plumbing services. We also provide oil and propane delivery, and cutting-edge options in both tankless and storage-based water heating equipment. To schedule an appointment, get in touch with HB Home Service Team today!
