How Hard Water Can Shorten the Life of Your Water Heater

Your water heater helps keep your home running smoothly and your family comfortable. In fact, it’s an important element of your home’s infrastructure, and the extremely hard water that Vegas is well known for can shorten its life expectancy considerably. If you have questions or concerns about your water heater, consult our experienced Las Vegas residential water heater specialists at Hanson’s Quality Water Works.

Hard Water Takes a Toll on Water Heaters

You’re probably not surprised to learn that Las Vegas has some of the hardest water in the country. One related problem is that hard water is very hard on plumbing appliances, including water heaters. Ultimately, hard water can cut many years off your water heater’s lifespan, highlighting the importance of an effective water-softening system.

How Hard Water Damages Water Heaters

You’re likely familiar with the telltale chalky buildup associated with hard water. This generally takes the form of a dry, white substance that circles your faucets and fixtures, as well as water spots on your dishes, cutlery, and pots and pans. As this chalky substance builds up in your plumbing and appliances, including your water heater, it can do serious damage.

Over time, this can lead to all the following:

• Leaving the water supply lines clogged
• Requiring your water heater to work harder, which renders it less energy efficient
• Causing mineral scale to build up inside your water heater, and the sediment settles to the bottom in standard heaters and can coat the exchanger in tankless units
• Causing the gas burner or heating element to work overtime
• Leading to an overall weakening of the tank lining, due to the constant thermal stress and resulting corrosion
• Emitting loud popping, banging, or rumbling noises that are caused by water trapped under hardened scale

The bottom line is that hard water is very likely to shorten your water heater’s life expectancy considerably. Over the course of its lifespan, you can also expect to face higher utility bills.

Water Heaters Are Hit Hardest

Hard water is the enemy of all your home’s plumbed appliances, but your water heater is likely to be hit the hardest. The continuous high heat generated by water heaters causes the minerals in hard water to separate quickly, leading to increased sediment and ongoing thermal stress. The effects of hard water build on themselves, and as they increase, your water heater has to work harder and harder, which takes a serious toll.

We Understand the Importance of Water Heater Systems

Our knowledgeable Las Vegas residential water heater professionals at Hanson’s Quality Water Works recognize the critical role your water heater plays in your home and the importance of balancing it with the extremely hard water in the Vegas area. We can help, so please don’t delay contacting us online or giving us a call at 702-795-4442 today.