Here’s some statistics from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, an insurance industry research organization:

• Most water heater failures occur when the water heater has reached its life expectancy and the tank begins to rust and corrode. 
• The average age at failure was 10.7 years.
• More than two-thirds of all water heater failures are due to a slow leak or sudden burst of the tank.
• Water heater failures cost the insurance company an average of $4,444 per incident, after the deductible is paid.

   Because water heaters corrode from the inside of the tank outward, there is often no external sign of it’s deterioration. The water heater in the picture above is 28 years old. Other than a little dust and some discoloration of the EnergyGuide sticker, it doesn’t look it’s age--and that’s the problem. It is a proverbial “accident waiting to happen.”

   When insurance companies request a 4-point inspection for older homes, as they are doing more often lately, if the water heater is over about 30 years old they will likely request that it be replaced as a requirement for coverage.

   There are several things you can do to extend the life of an older water heater, such as draining the sediment from the bottom of the tank every couple of years and replacing the sacrificial anode as necessary, but the best way to avoid a water heater failure and subsequent water damage is to just replace it.

    To find the age of your water heater, go to How do I determine the age of my water heater? Also, see our blog post What are the most common installation mistakes with water heater replacement?

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Here’s links to a collection of more blog posts about WATER HEATERS:

• Are water heaters required to be raised off the floor? 

• Can a Temperature and Pressure Relief (TPR or T&P) valve be mounted to discharge horizontally?

• Where are gas water heaters not allowed to be installed?  

• Why is there water in my water heater drain pan?

• What does it mean when a water heater Temperature/Pressure Relief (TPR) discharge pipe is "trapped"? 

• Can I leave a gas water heater in place when remodeling a garage into a family room or bedroom? 

• Where do I find the water heater in a mobile home?

• Does a tankless water heater in an attic require a drain pan? 

• Does an electric water heater require a disconnect? 

• Is a catch pan and drain piping required for a replacement water heater?

• What is the difference between a single element and dual element electric water heater? 

• What is an FVIR water heater?

• What is a dielectric union?

• What's that powdery crust on the pipe connections at the water heater? 

• Why is my water heater making strange (rumbling, gurgling, knocking or banging) noises? 

• What can I do to make my water heater last longer?

• How can I determine the age of a water heater if the serial number is missing or decoding it is impossible? 

• How does a hydronic heating system work?

• What is the difference between a regular water heater and a direct vent water heater? 

• What is the difference between a regular water heater and a power vent water heater?

• What is backdrafting at a gas water heater? 

• How do I determine if a water heater is gas or electric?

• What does it mean when a gas appliance (water heater, furnace, or range) has been "red tagged"?  

• What's the valve with the flip-up handle on the water heater for?

   Visit our WATER HEATERS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.