How Long Do Water Heaters Last?

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In today's video we cut open a fairly new, yet failed tank type water heater and talk about how long you can expect these things to last especially if you don't do any regular maintenance on it.
Just like any appliance though, there are steps that you can take to prolong the life of your water heater.
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[@mollycasey39]

There is no doubt that less homes with well water, poorer craftsmanship and the materials used has changed the life of everything. Washers, dryers, refrigerators, hot water tanks, power tools, sewing machines, TV's and many more. Even pets :). We replaced our gas hot water tank when it was 26 years old. I remember all the other appliances I named, we bought when they were already 15 to 20 years old and ran them another 8 -12 years more. They were often fixable until a catastrophic failure. I repair sewing machines, same thing. There are wonderful 90 year old machines working perfectly, and 3-400 dollar modern plastic machines failing in a year or two (more common... 5 or 6 years). Refrigerators! $1500 for 5 to 7 years! Thanks to KZbin, and folks like Benjamin, I've saved a few appliances, extended their lives by years, and saved another bunch of resources (material) from being tossed.

[@brucesimpson8579]

My Bradford-White was installed in 1998 and is still working. I think having a water softener installed in 1999 helped to prolong the life of the heater.

[@stevenz933]

A water softener replaces the ‘hard’ minerals in the water with sodium. This makes the water more corrosive and conductive, which speeds up the anode rod’s deterioration. If the damaged anode rod isn’t replaced quickly, the water will corrode the tank itself.

[@BrianHoff04]

@@stevenz933 Like Bruce my Gas Bradford was installed in 98. My well water is hard (have a softener). Never replaced the anode. If the lack of anode causes internal corrosion then I'm thinking 25 years is a pretty decent life. This year it gets replaced. Hoping to replace it with a similar heater. In 20 years I'll be 80 (or dead). I have to give Bradford some credit. They seemed to make a long lasting heater back in the late 90's.

[@tomsenft7434]

I bought my house in 2000 and I've never maintained or replaced my hot water tank. I'm actually afraid to flush it- that I might disrupt something. I want to replace it while it still works, but my wife is afraid to spend the money. I know we got lucky on this one. Also, I couldn't get the anode rod out because of restricted height.

[@stevenz933]

@@tomsenft7434 After 20+ years, I'm sure the anode rod is toast and nothing is left of it except for a thin wire which you could easily slip out even if it is in a tight corner. The new anode rods come with bendable sections that allow you to feed it into the tank even if it is in a restricted height. Regardless, if you got 20 years out of it I wouldn't bother with the anode rod and simply get a whole new water heater as a precautionary measure since it's just a matter of time before the bottom falls out.

[@harvestmoongirl5960]

Softeners definitely help by taking all that stuff that makes ur water hard out but still draining and flushing at least yearly makes these newer ones last longer

[@EK--ry3lr]

Like that you stopped to admire the sunset 🌇

[@ne2i]

My WH dated install was 11/93 still going....

[@athalyerajan2823]

Thank u for helping me save $$ and maintain my heater.

[@Samlol23_drrich]

The answer to the title question is "Until a day after the Warranty expires"

[@harvestmoongirl5960]

A water heater can typically last between 10-15 years but that also depends on complete maintenance and your particular water condition too

[@ricoma6037]

Great video! Very informative and appreciated!!!!

[@HobbyOrganist]

I bought my house in 1998 and it had a State "glass lined" gas water heater put in in 1978, I was never able to get the drain to work but otherwise it worked fine and didnt leak. It lasted to 2015 when it started to leak around the drain faucett, so I replaced it with one from Sears. I cut the tank open to loo, there was about a good FOOT of lime scale on the bottom but the inside of the tank was CLEAN, no rust. People dont know to change the anode rod periodically, I did already on the Sears heater, the rod was fine.

[@stevesnop3798]

Hey Ben. Have you ever looked into powered anode rods? Corrro-protec is a company that makes them.

[@bobniles1928]

My 40 gallon electric is 17 years old. I have never changed the anode rod but I do drain off sediment about every 6 months. I am on a private well. I think water quality is a major factor in tank life.

[@billk8780]

Thanks Benjamin... you just gave me another thing to do. I will pull my anode rod and check its condition.

[@stephboeker7835]

Do you have a video or link for : "how to change your anode rod" ?? Great video sir !! I love how much I learn from your video's. They also seem to be about subjects well needed to be discussed (everyday common items) and your teaching skills re easy to understand. I mean, everything is presented in a concise, chromatic & obvious order. Thanks for sharing and your generous consideration, Sincerely ......................

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

here in the UK all builds are tankless, i have never seen a tank apart from the ones you showed us, even in houses built in 2000 thay are all thankless

[@happyyardservice2914]

I owned a house that was built in the 1950 and had a water heater that dated back 1963. I never flushed it, ran it hot and when I sold the house in 1995 the water worked fine and no rush ever occurred from the hot water side. When someone took a shower or bath it would crack like a bomb was going off but soon as you turned the hot water off it would stop. Now how come that gas water heater never had to be replaced but todays water heaters don't last 5 years. Hmmmm......

[@AviewFromUnder]

Im on a well and the water has TDS of nearly 500 lots of iron and manganese. I am currently on the the 14 year of 2 75 gallon whirlpools. I flush every 4 years changed the anode just 2 years ago. I am so convinced there a better investment then on demand cash burners! Like your content even though we disagree on water heaters!

[@dontblameme6328]

I'm with you 100% on your comments. Something is way wrong if a water heater only lasts 6.4 years. Should get 20 pretty easily and with minimal maintenance.

[@ghostridergale]

I got the original hot water heater that was installed in our manufactured home when it was put on our property way back in 2005 and it’s still working and no leaks as of yet. Haven’t done much to it except drain the bottom of the tank a couple times We are on a Well and our water seems to be pretty good. Don’t see any minerals stains anywhere, not even in the toilets Or bathtubs/showers! I’ve been pretty impressed with how long this hot water tank has held up. Really expected it to fail anytime? But so far so good!

[@harvestmoongirl5960]

That maintenance is crucial hehe can check for an anode at a local hardware store

[@codycopeland7527]

I have a 6 year Rheem 40 gallon electric water heater. It is just over 10 years old now. Replaced the anode rod once about a year ago (when I was informed that was a thing that should be replaced). It is still going strong, I haven't noticed any real loss in capacity. Now the main thing to note is I am on softened well water in northern MI, my water test show a PH of ~ 8.5 and a total alkalinity of ~ 150. So between having a softner and water that is naturally basic and highly acid neutralizing, my appliances last for way longer than there expected lifetime. All this to say that things can very greatly from place to place. So if you have a water heater that only last 3 years don't necessarily blame it on the manufacturer. It may just be an unfortunate reality of your water.

[@urbanws1234]

I have Water Softner, I flush the Tank Every Six Months and replace the Rod Every year even if it still looks good. Going on 21 Years and not an issue in sight. Its Called Preventative maintaince for a reason. Sadly many live with the disposal Mindset. and that costs $$$$$$$$$

[@NurseAcrobat]

I'm surprised to see no mention of powered anode rods. I wish they came standard with water heaters though that may be bad business as it would increase the sale price and decrease the frequency of replacement.

[@paulnevins]

Just installed my powered anode rod last week 😊

[@claytonkeeney8911]

I have an natural gas, 29 gal at a rental property that has a dated install of 1981 on st louis municipal water

[@christinaeubanks-ohana6503]

Thanks!

[@petem6291]

This just shows that in different parts of the country the water quality can be so different, it would be interesting to test the water in those heaters and look at the PH levels and other factors???

[@davidbrown4868]

Mine is still going after at least 18 years. I monitor and change the anode as needed. What I see happing though, is the rust on outside of the water tank shows that it will probably spring a leak from the rusting on the outside of the tank.

[@1McMurdoSilver]

I just replaced a GE/Rheem 12 yr 50gal nat gas water heater, made in 1999. I did change the anode rod about 5-8 years ago, and was going to do it again this year, but it started leaking. Around here it should be done probably every 3-5 years. How do you remove the anode rod? Impact? or breaker bar - but how to secure the tank? I'm interested in other tips on anode removal.

[@NelsonWCRS]

Q&A about floating neutral. If I have my Gen. on floating neutral plugged into my braker panel, can I use a 120v receptacle from my Gen. for my neighbor's refrigerator with an extension cord at the same time?

[@mrfoodarama]

Pretty cool! I wonder if newer hot water heaters are more prone to quick failure?

[@chrisE815]

The conspiracy is the tank material is made out of lower quality steel that rots quicker. Who knows the truth but I will happily swap out my anode rod often.

[@RandomActsOfMadness]

Here it’s common with enameled steel or stainless steel tanks in areas with corrosion prone municipal water. If the outlook is to replace the tank every 6 years I’d definitely look into a more expensive but corrosion resistant construction.

[@extrem1st]

When I sold my condo I replaced the water heater at the behest of the buyer. Original water heater was from 1978 and still working perfectly! California water, if that makes a difference.

[@FishFind3000]

My 2 are from around 2004 and still going. We are on a well not city water.

[@Garth2011]

Well water is "softer" water vs. city water most of the time. Lots of people unfamiliar with water wells will say well water is too risky, unhealthful ! Most of the time well water is more healthy than city water as long as the well was tested and approved when it was dug.

[@geraldarcuri9307]

My GE natural gas water heater was installed 2005. Still works fine. I cannot find a quality replacement in California. All California gas water heaters must now be ultra low NOx ( of course! ). This severely limits our choices ( of course! ). California, where everything but illegal immigration is, you know, actually illegal.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Sadly, Minnesota is trying to implement many of the same things...

[@AmericanFarmerHVAC2024]

​@@BenjaminSahlstrom is that where you're from? I thought you were north of me in Canada 😂

[@tedlahm5740]

Gerald: Well written.

[@Garth2011]

Gas water heating is best. Electric increases the corrosion issues. Tankless heaters require maintenance too and are expensive.

[@rblackwell44]

Hey thank you for the information, do you know what would cause a rotten egg smell from the hot water faucet?

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Sometimes, it's the anode rod reaching with your water source. Could try changing the type of anode rod to magnesium or aluminum.

[@Mr._Craig]

Whats your opinion on electronic anode rods?

[@kenwinschel5785]

So, I have a 4' tall water heater and a 7' high ceiling. Kinda makes changing the rod a project!

[@kenwinschel5785]

Do you have a video on how to flush the tank.

[@dylancampbell8064]

Here in AZ, you're lucky to get 8 years out of most brands due to the hard water.

[@raiderbait7045]

I tried replacing the anode but I eventually hit a point where if I kept upping the amount of force needed to break it free was going to damage the unit. And this was a brand new uninstalled unit, so corrosion played no part. (when installed my unit has very little overhead space so I was trying to switch my new unit from a solid rod anode to a flexible anode rod before installation which would allow me to change them routinely after install.

[@colinbrady3883]

You need to use an impact gun on the anode/dip tube to vibrate it so it brakes the seal

[@chrisE815]

I guess I know which brands to avoid- even though I'm swapping anode rods often.... What brand is the water heater installed in 2004?

[@donaldshimkus539]

My water heater was 6 y.o when I bought my house in 05. I just replaced it 2020. So 21 yrs with some of the worst well water I've ever seen. It's eating up the anode rod and dispersing black "sand" all through the hot water system. I'm going to try the aluminum rod. And maybe a softener is in the future.

[@steamy1225]

What about a gas heated tank type water heater? I got one from the late 90's. Doesn't have an anode rod that i can see.

[@James-ux5ys]

It also depends one how many people are using the hot water heater. To make it not last long. Also in apartment's the ones that have washing machines puts a strain on the hot water heaters. Compared to the apartment's that have public washing machines

[@postulatingspin4470]

Water heater in my home is in the attic. Leak alarm installed in the water pan. Insurance company wont insure the house after it is 10 y/o…..guess they have the real failure rates/per age figured out. Also, last guys failed to make sure the pan drain was water tight….a garden hose exposed this right away. That pan Is useless if not sealed water tight and flow tested. If you get a new w/h installed insist they test out the catchment pan seal and flow integrity.

[@tedlahm5740]

Homeownership can be very troublesome? MOST people will be renters now and in the future. All maintenance will be delayed.

[@chrisidzerda2963]

That water heater is clean compared to mine: rust flakes from well 3 feet deep. I replaced it with a Stiebel Eltron 15 kw on demand water heater. Oh I have filtered the rust out

[@specialks1953]

The element in your patch cord experiment did not erupt quickly because it is running at 1/4 of the design wattage.

[@jonathanpakozdi2796]

Absolutely. p=e^2/r.

[@jkbrown5496]

Half the voltage gives you only about 25% of the power as power is voltage squared over resistance. This reminds me I really need to pull my anode rod and check it. I've been looking at some videos on sand batteries. Looks like those would make some big ones. Just cut off the top like you did.

[@John-dp3ln]

Electrics will last a long time if 1- bottom element replaced with a low watt density heater 2- when bottom element replaced, vacuum out sediment from bottom with shop vac through element hole 3- replace the anode before they wear out, at least every 7 years. 4- replace the dip tube if it breaks. Top element will hardly ever turn on unless lots of hot water used and dip tube is intact. Gas no way to vac out, same advice anode rod and dip tube. Both are wear items.

[@davidmerkrebs9967]

nothing to do with water heaters but can you explain to me how to bond csst gas flex other than running all the way back to the main service panel thanks for your help

[@Bass.Player]

Mine is 15 years old, I pulled the anode rod last year and more than 50% of the rod remains. Heater is on a 1 micron filter on the inlet. Absolutely so sediment on the inside...

[@waterheaterservices]

I install replacement water heaters for a living. Virtually all are natural gas. In my city most last 12 -16 years.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

That's not too bad. What brands do you prefer?

[@MichaelLindner-ir3nj]

Now I don’t feel quite as bad that my heater only lasted 8 years.

[@JohnCap523]

Replace your anode rod and it’ll last.

[@JohnCap523]

That’s extremely extreme for a 3 year old tank. The water in that house is nasty as hell. No one would replace an anode rod in three years (if ever).

[@thewaterheaterfactory]

Anode rod, huge difference!! Change it!!

[@404-UsernameNotFound]

I'm feeling good about my 13yo heater

[@cousin_JACK]

Current water heater is going strong at 20 years old

[@Paulie1232]

Dam I feel better about myself, mine lasted 20 years. I flushed it clean every year and changed the anode rod every few years.....

[@1o1carolina53]

Simply read my comment galvanic corrosion for bonding low PH I dissolved solids and high conductivity profile along with galvanized fittings will destroy any water heater including a Bradford White in under 2 years

[@specialks1953]

Benjamin a heating element rated 4000 watts at 240 volts will be 1000 watts at 120 volts. I see someone beat me by 49 minutes with this same info. Oh Well

[@tedlahm5740]

20 ohms of resistance in the element? 720 watts at 120 volts?

[@zanderday4466]

got 22 years and 21 years out of 2 in my house . . .

[@peehandshihtzu]

I have a tendency to think that post covid versions of goods (especially those item manufactured during the early lockdowns) are about half as good as the pre-covid versions of the same items. Perhaps that might be so of what we see here??? IDK but super interesting results. My HW heater is propane driven so I suppose there are different aspects to consider on it.

[@kpmac2971]

My water heaters tend to last 10-12 years, but the heating elements tend to burn out every five years or so.

[@isaiahcorona6198]

Burn out from the corrosion? I changed my moms water heater because the heating elements were both shit and one of them was compelled obliterated by the minerals and sediment.

[@minergate4066]

Flushing the tank apparently is a myth. Im no expert but my water tank is from 2008, never been flushed still running like a champ

[@1McMurdoSilver]

What.. no bugs outside yet?

[@AmericanFarmerHVAC2024]

These Richmond's and reliances you buy at a big box store are junk. And so is a Rheem. I don't know what to do when my old Kenmore from the 90s dies.

[@keithlassiter]

Hummm, replacing hot water heater for leaking heaters?

[@donhuffer5167]

If they made it easier to change the anode rod. People might do it. But why would they cut their own throat?

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Good point for sure.

[@jackl9922]

Wow. I get 12 yrs zero maintenance.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Not bad!

[@dosiodosev740]

Damm. I am on 7 year old gas one

[@billy5032]

6.4 years where you are might be a good average.

[@donaldshimkus539]

Many times water heaters are replaced needlessly because of a minor, easily fixed water leak or a t-stat or element that failed. Uninformed homeowners are taken advantage of by handymen and plumbers looking to make a fast buck. I see water heaters last 20 yrs easy with just a little maintenance such as an annual flushing and occasional element change. I'm sure I've changed out over 200 w. heaters in my 50 yrs as a handyman and repaired almost as many to see them live a good long life. 6.4 yrs is not normal. I say it's more like 12-15 yrs. You must have another problem in your area.

[@colden1877]

Well they’re Rheem water heater which are complete garbage especially if they were manufactured around the time of the pandemic. Bradford White water heater all the way, I’ve never had an issue with a Bradford white.

[@AP-514]

I have to say those Rheem are piles of JUNK if they are not making at least 10 years. My heater is from 1998. Replaced the rod 1 time and Flush Yearly.

[@kevinkessler2024]

BS thing about anode rods is the manufacturers won't sell them directly to home owners. At least Bradford White won't. Will never buy from them again.

[@tedlahm5740]

Bradford ONLY deals with licensed plumber? A closed network.

[@Jon-hx7pe]

i suspect in rural areas water heaters last a much shorter time.

[@chrisE815]

than 6 years? Why do you say that?

[@user-vp1jj4yj3u]

You are so misleading people with this video. I have service water heaters for over 20yrs. I have a Rheem electric 60gal that was installed in 2000. Still working strong. The rust you see inside the tank us from after the tank was drained an o2 got into tank. Tankless need servicing otherwise the lime scale you worried about in the bottom of a tank will inpeed the function of a tankless. Once again you have no clue what you are talking about.

[@1o1carolina53]

Don't be a turd I've been plumbing for 40 years The only four things that matter- number one is the electric service properly grounded and bonded to the water piping system If it isn't and you use plastic piping make sure there's no galvanized fittings anywhere in your water system or galvanic corrosion will eat your water heater number three buy a brand like Bradford White that has an epoxy coating on the inside also treat your water before it enters the water heater tank if it has low pH high dissolved solids and high conductivity profile when your mineral test is performed, you're screwed

[@Garth2011]

Bradford White are king of water heaters...

[@1o1carolina53]

@@Garth2011 YOU are correct. Peace and love to ALL

[@colinbrady3883]

You have to have water in the tank to turn the element on or it will fry it, honestly you have no clue what your talking about. Well water can also be more corrosive than municipal. You have to test the water.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

That was the whole point. To see what it does without water.