Hot Water Heater Life Expectancy | Life Span of Water Heaters

A hot water system can be broadly defined as one or more heaters (including the cylinder) and all the associated plumbing that supplies heated water to outlets where it is required. For most of us though, it is as simple as having hot water when standing under the shower or turning on a tap. If you need assistance with your hot water, Pav Plumbing can repair or replace all brands of heaters, including:

• Rheem
• Dux
• Vulcan
• Rinnai
• Bosch
• And more

Not everyone is aware, but the manufacturer's life expectancy on a storage heater is generally less than ten years. A Rheem hot water heater, for example, has a manufacturer's life expectancy of six to ten years. You can check the manufacture date in the specifications printed on the upper side of the cylinder, and you should consider replacing it if it is older than ten years. Another simple test is to run the hot water in a white bath or basin, and if it is slightly rusty or discoloured, it is an indication that your cylinder may be rusting on the inside, and you may need to replace your hot water system before it splits and leaks.

Hot water cylinders tend to split when water pressure is at its highest in the early hours of the morning, often forcing customers to pay a plumber emergency rates to disconnect the system and then return to replace it, as well as causing severe damage to the carpet and other items in the apartment. Bad cases can also result in water flowing through concrete slabs and under walls into other apartments and common areas such as the foyer and carpark. It is essential that a tray with a drain or a Terminator valve be installed by a plumber with all new hot water systems to minimise the water damage caused in the event that the hot water cylinder does leak and/or split.

When installing a new hot water system, always insist that your plumber installs the correct pressure limiting valve. This will prolong the life of the cylinder of your heater - sometimes by as much as 50% - as excessive pressure causes unnecessary stress on the cylinder and will cause it to split prematurely. Customers should also be aware that manufacturers often require that a pressure limiting valve be installed or the warranty may be void. Refer to the installation guide provided with your hot water system for further details.

Whether you have a Rheem hot water system, a Dux, a Vulcan, a Rinnai, a Bosch or any other heater - our emergency plumbers will make sure that the supply of hot water to your shower, bath and kitchen continues uninterrupted.