How Long Should a Water Heater Last? (And How to Make Yours Last Longer)

A standard residential tank water heater in a Brooklyn home lasts roughly 10 to 12 years — some longer, some shorter depending on water quality and upkeep. Tankless units run longer, but with more service along the way. Either way, plan around a decade, not a lifetime.

The biggest killer is sediment. Brooklyn water carries minerals; they settle in the tank bottom, harden, and insulate the burner from the water. The heater runs hotter and longer to do the same job, the tank strains, and the bottom eventually corrodes through. Hard water, high usage, and never flushing the tank all speed this up.

The single most useful thing: flush the tank once a year to clear the sediment before it hardens. It's a small, cheap job and it meaningfully extends the life. Add to that a working, tested relief valve and keeping the area around it clear, and you've done the maintenance that actually matters.

If yours is past 10 years, don't wait for it to tell you it's done — plan the replacement. A planned swap is a morning's work. A failed tank in a finished basement is a renovation. Call and I'll tell you honestly where yours stands.