Water heater labels often promise 10 to 12 years. In Las Vegas, many tank heaters don’t make it that long. Two local conditions are to blame: very hard water and hot garages.
What shortens water heater life here
Hard water scale
Las Vegas water carries a lot of calcium and magnesium. When it’s heated, those minerals settle to the bottom of the tank as scale. The scale insulates the water from the burner, so the bottom of the tank overheats, the steel weakens and the heater works harder to do the same job.
Garage heat
Most water heaters here live in the garage, where summer temperatures can top 110°F. Heat speeds up corrosion and wears out gas valves, thermostats and seals.
High water pressure
Parts of the valley have high city water pressure. Without a working pressure-reducing valve and expansion tank, the tank is under extra stress every time it heats. Learn about pressure regulators.
Warning signs your water heater is failing
- Popping, rumbling or banging during heating
- Running out of hot water faster than you used to
- Rusty or smelly hot water
- Water or rust around the base of the tank
- A dripping temperature and pressure relief valve
- The heater is more than 8 to 10 years old
How to make your water heater last longer
- Flush the tank once a year to remove sediment before it hardens.
- Check the anode rod every few years. It sacrifices itself to protect the tank from corrosion.
- Install a water softener to stop scale at the source. See water softener options.
- Keep pressure in check with a working pressure-reducing valve and expansion tank.
- Descale tankless units yearly if you have one.
Repair or replace?
If the tank itself is leaking, it has to be replaced. If the heater is younger than about 8 years and the problem is a part like a thermocouple, igniter, gas valve, element or thermostat, a repair usually makes sense. If it’s older and struggling, replacing it before it floods your garage is often the better value.
Replacing an old tank is also the best time to consider going tankless. Compare tank and tankless.
Need help with your water heater?
TPM Services repairs and replaces tank and tankless water heaters across Las Vegas, with an honest diagnosis and a written price before we start. See our water heater services or call 702-932-5755.
