Your water heater works quietly in the background — until it doesn't. Most homeowners don't think about it until they're standing in a cold shower at 6 AM, staring at a puddle on the basement floor. The good news is that water heaters rarely fail without warning. The bad news is that most people miss the signs until it's too late. Here's what to watch for — and when it's time to stop patching and start replacing. The Average Water Heater Lifespan A traditional tank water heat