Because hot water heaters can cost hundreds, you may be tricked into thinking that the price you pay entitles you to at least a decade or two of reliable use.
Unfortunately, few water heaters make it that long, and when it’s their time to go, they make sure you know it. According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, the average hot water heater only lasts about 10 years. By the 9-year mark, more than 40 percent have burst, and just 6 years after setting up your new model, there’s still a 15 percent chance it will burst and cause extensive water damage. If that happens, the costs to clean-up the mess could be in the tens of thousands of dollars and as the homeowner you could be liable for the entire cost. If the water damage extends to adjacent units then the cost could be even higher.
If your hot water heater is over 10-years old, the HOA is urging all homeowner to replace them as soon as possible.
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