The average water heater will last about 12 years, according to industry statistics. Sadly, far too many water heaters fail long before that. With a bit of periodic maintenance, a water heater should ...

Alina Bradford has been writing how-tos, tech articles and more for almost two decades. She currently writes for CNET's Smart Home Section, MTVNews' tech section and for Live Science's reference ...

Compare plans tailored to your home & budget. Over time, minerals and sediment naturally collect inside your water heater, which can cause clogs, reduce efficiency and shorten the system’s lifespan.