A typical hot water heater will last between 8 to 12 years; however, this depends on a lot of different factors. There are certain things that can cause a hot water heater to wear out prematurely or faster than it should, and it's important to understand these things if your hot water heater is not working. If yours is currently not working as it should, you may need to replace it, even if it is not even 8 years old. These are two of the top things that cause hot water heaters to wear out quickly.

Hard Water

The type of water you have in your home can greatly affect your home's hot water heater system. If you have clean, soft water that is free of a lot of minerals and other types of contaminants, your hot water heater will probably last a lot longer.

Hard water can contain a lot of different minerals, including iron and calcium. If you have hard water and do not treat it, the minerals in your water will damage your hot water heater. These minerals can adhere to the tank and its components, and this can cause rust and corrosion to develop inside the tank. This will prematurely wear out a hot water heater causing you to need to replace it a lot sooner.

Sediment buildup is the number one cause of problems with hot water heaters. This is one reason to consider getting a water treatment system in your home. With a water treatment system, the water that enters the hot water heater will be treated, which means it will be cleaner. This will extend the life of your hot water heater.

The Location of the Tank

The other main thing that can lead to premature wearing out of a hot water heater is the location of the system. A lot of homes have hot water heaters in unconditioned space, such as a basement, crawlspace, or garage. When a hot water heater is in unconditioned space, it must work harder than normal to heat the water and keep the water hot because it is fighting against the cold weather. If you can place your hot water heater in an area of your home that is conditioned, it will probably last longer.

If you are currently experiencing problems with your hot water heater, contact a water heater installation company that offers repairs and replacement. They can help you determine the best option for your situation.