The average hot water heater typically lasts between 10-15 years – depending on how well it’s been maintained, the quality of the original installation and water quality in your area. \rHere are some tell-tale signs that it’s time to replace your hot water tank:\r\rUnusual delays getting hot water to your tap when you turn it on\rWater comes out of your taps looking murky or with a distinct colour or smell\rWater never really obtains a “hot” temperature even when the tap has been running for a while\rYou quickly run out of hot water when performing typical operations such as doing dishes, laundry, showering, etc.\rYou find puddles or leaks near the hot water tank\rYour hot water tank makes unusual noises while in operation\rThe tank shows signs of rust either on the tank or in the water at your taps\r\r \rTo determine how old your hot water heater is, please view the product specification label on the hot water heater itself.  On older hot water heater models, you can sometimes determine the age based on the date it was manufactured, or you can check your serial number with the manufacturer and ask them when it was built.  Some manufacturers such as Rheem have incorporated the month and year the tank was built into the first 4 digits of their serial numbers for easy reference.