Figuring out the age of my water heater
My water heater is definitely nearing the end of its service life.
I have been procrastinating over buying and installing a new one. I did some research and learned that a tank-style water heater typically lasts between eight and twelve years. I wasn’t exactly sure of the age of my water heater. Most articles I read recommended replacing the heater prior to it failing. I can see the wisdom in being proactive. It would be nice to avoid the unpleasant surprise of having no hot water for my morning shower in the middle of the winter. I’m sure a new water heater would be more energy efficient. I am just reluctant to spend the money on the purchase price and installation. I don’t want to attempt the job myself. I’d need to hire a professional plumber to ensure proper sizing and get rid of the old tank. I would either need to take a day off from work or sacrifice my Saturday. I decided to start by confirming the age of the water heater. I found the serial number on the bottom part of the tank. Unfortunately, the tank is in such bad condition, the built-in date wasn’t legible. I then dug through my collection of owner’s manuals and found the one for the water heater. I had written the serial number on the owner’s manual. By putting the manufacturer’s name and serial number into Google, I figured out the exact age of the model. My water heater is sixteen years old. I am now in a hurry to get a new water heater installed as soon as possible.