How Long Will Your Water Heater Last?

Stay ahead of the game with an energy-efficient traditional, tankless or indirect-fired product.

How many times do you use hot water throughout the day? Let’s count the ways:

1. You need it for your shower in the morning (and bathing your kids at night).
2. Your family needs it to wash their hands.
3. You need it to clean your children’s various boo-boos.
4. You need it to handwash or machine-wash dishes.
5. It’s essential for washing laundry.

These are just a few essential daily functions that require a working water heater. Is it any wonder that the average American household uses almost one fifth of its energy heating water?

At Poore’s Propane and Oil, we perform more water heater installations than just about any other company in Dover, Chestertown, Lewes or other communities in Delmarva and Eastern Pennsylvania. Whether you have a gas- or oil-fired system, we can help you determine if it’s time for an upgrade.

How long do water heaters last?

On average, a traditional water heater will function for between 7 and 13 years with proper upkeep. (Tankless systems last longer.)
The primary cause of water heater failures is internal corrosion caused by particles in water. Here are some warning signs that your water heater is on its last legs:

• You have higher energy bills and can’t explain why.
• You hear gurgling, popping, rumbling or growling noises from your tank.
• There is water around your tank.
• You’re getting brown or rusty water from hot water taps.

If you ignore these issues, you could end up with a water heater failure. A broken unit can cause extensive water damage, plus you will immediately be without hot water.

However, if you plan ahead and contact the Poore’s team early, we will assist you in upgrading to a new, more efficient model.

Highly Efficient Water Heater Options

For a start, both propane and heating oil offer superior hot water generation. They far outpace electric water heaters. But there are even more efficient options that our customers love:

Propane-fired tankless water heaters produce virtually unlimited hot water on demand using a super-hot flame that comes on whenever a hot water fixture or appliance needs it. Tankless models reduce your fuel usage because they don’t heat and reheat a tank of unused water. This efficiency can save you up to 40 percent on your energy costs for water heating. Tankless water heaters are also much more compact than traditional storage tank units.

Oilheat customers should consider an indirect-fired water heater. These products use the heat from your home’s boiler to warm water. When you combine an indirect-fired water heater with a high-efficiency heating system, you can enjoy some of the most efficient, low-cost hot water generation available.

Please don’t wait for a struggling, past-its-prime water heater to fail before contacting us about one of these world-class hot water systems. Reach out to Poore’s Propane and Oil right now, and we’ll provide you with a free, no-obligation estimate.