Water heaters in second homes fail differently from ones in daily use, and the reason is that they spend most of their life doing nothing.
Sitting idle is hard on a tank
A heater that runs continuously for a week and then sits untouched for two months corrodes internally faster than one in steady use. Sediment settles and stays, and the anode rod does its work without anyone checking it. That is why heaters in holiday homes often fail earlier than expected.
You find out at the worst moment
The failure almost always announces itself on the first evening of a visit, or the day guests arrive. Servicing in the off season, rather than waiting for a problem, is genuinely worth doing on a house used this way.
Larger homes, more complex systems
Many Kiawah homes have recirculating loops so hot water reaches distant bathrooms quickly, and sometimes more than one heater. When the wait for hot water gets long, the recirculation pump is often the culprit rather than the heater itself.
What is worth repairing
A thermostat, element, thermocouple or gas valve on a tank under about eight years old is usually worth fixing. A tank leaking from the body has rusted through, and in a house that sits empty that is worth replacing promptly rather than watching.