Are natural gas water heaters more inefficient with age?

by Water Heaters on August 27, 2010

Somebody said a layer of oxide forms over the heater, thus the flame has to heat the oxide before getting to the water? My heater is 10 years old.


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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Nicholas Hoult August 27, 2010 at 12:02 am

Not sure?

William B August 27, 2010 at 12:02 am

yep they all do it, calcium build up out of the water ,
10 yrs is good for a gas heater,

Irv S August 27, 2010 at 12:02 am

Any ‘oxide build-up’ on the outside will be relatively trivial.
Calcium buildup on the ‘water’ side of the heater is the
main culprit.
This does slow down the heat transfer from the flame to
the water and decreases efficiency.
How fast it happens depends on the ‘haredness’ of the water supplied.
If the heater is otherwise in good shape, an acid flush can reverse the problem.

Big August 27, 2010 at 12:02 am

Best to get a tech. in to clean the burner assembly, and check it over. It should be the price of a service call, less than an hour.

paulofhouston August 27, 2010 at 12:02 am

Efficiency would depend on cost of gas and electricity.In every case I have seen gas is more efficient plus a gas water heater will outlast 2 electric easily (as long as the calcium build up inside is drained off) Most gas water heaters last 20+years or more.Who ever told you oxide builds up is WRONG, What happens is the pilot light usualy gets carbon in it(which is easily cleaned with a pipe cleaner) or the thermocouple might burn up (just put a small piece of alluminum foil over it till you can replace it)

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