Depending on the internal quality of parts in water heater and whether you have followed maintenance schedule of draining and flushing the tank every year. You can expect a hot water heater to last between 8 to12 years. Water heater problems normally become self-evident: A hot water faucet fails to summon hot water, you see dripping or puddles near the water heater, or the tank emits strange gurgling or popping sounds.