Water Heaters [Archive] - The Vette Barn

Yerf Dog

12-12-2011, 10:41am

Has anyone replaced one before they had a problem?

The one in my house was there when I bought the home in 1997, so it has to be at least 15 years old.

:waiting:

6spdC6

12-12-2011, 11:02am

Has anyone replaced one before they had a problem?

The one in my house was there when I bought the home in 1997, so it has to be at least 15 years old.

:waiting:

Depends to me on where it is, if its in a place it could do damage I would look it over close at that age. Might be a good time to change it. Are you one of about the 5% of people out there that do a drain down at least once a year to clear out sediment?

I got over 19 years out of my last tank but it was in a safe area and I waited till it leaked a bit. No big deal and its not a hard job to change if your handy with tools.

Bob CTS

12-12-2011, 11:11am

The one at my parents home has been going since house was built - 1981. It has had the elements replaced a few times.

This water heater is located downstairs in a climate controlled environment.

Howerver I am doing a remodel and need to tile under it, so I am really thinking of replacing it, might not survive a move.

Stangkiller

12-12-2011, 11:21am

Has anyone replaced one before they had a problem?

The one in my house was there when I bought the home in 1997, so it has to be at least 15 years old.

:waiting:

I've been wondering something similar to this as well...My house was built in 2006, but quite a few things were just builder grade, and I worry my water heater (which is in my attic) will pre-maturely fail like the plumbing for my toilets already did.

Burro (He/Haw)

12-12-2011, 11:24am

15 years old? It could go anytime. I had one 18 years old. Replaced it just because. Took three hours. Meh.

Yerf Dog

12-12-2011, 11:25am

I'm on a slab so I'd like to avoid a leak.

Nope, I've never drained the tank.

6spdC6

12-12-2011, 11:34am

I'm on a slab so I'd like to avoid a leak.

Nope, I've never drained the tank.

Believe it or not by not draining it might last longer. All the sediment and crud stays at the bottom and sort of makes concrete. Most tanks leak from the bottom. BUT also by not draining it energy cost will be higher as some heat is trapped in the crud.

At that age the prudent thing would be to replace it. Do to some new goverment regulations the price of new tanks has gone up significantly.

Jobaka

12-12-2011, 11:41am

I've been wondering something similar to this as well...My house was built in 2006, but quite a few things were just builder grade, and I worry my water heater (which is in my attic) will pre-maturely fail like the plumbing for my toilets already did.

That's the kind of thing that would keep me up nights. I'd change it just for the peace of mind.

We had some water damage recently and it was a PITA. Expensive, too. Not something I'd wish on anyone.

Sea Six

12-12-2011, 11:46am

Change it. You've already gotten your money's worth out of it.

Burro (He/Haw)

12-12-2011, 11:56am

No shit on the tank costs? What's that all about?

6spdC6

12-12-2011, 12:08pm

No shit on the tank costs? What's that all about?

In some areas water tanks are in garages. If gas is stored there or if gas leaks from a car there could be enough vapors for an explosion when the tank starts. They now have to have a device that ''smells'' the air before ignition occurs. Of course with the government involved it has to go on all gas fired tanks no matter where they are installed!:confused5:

12-12-2011, 6:22pm

In Texas the brain damaged (dane brammaged???) builders put the water heaters in the attic. Yeah, you heard right. When it fails it is sure to maximize the damage.

I have done two preemptive replacements over the last 26 years just to be safe.

I wish I could move the heater out of the attic but the plumbing elsewhere in the house doesn't support that.

Stangkiller

12-12-2011, 6:25pm

Rapid Roger

12-12-2011, 6:33pm

In some areas water tanks are in garages. If gas is stored there or if gas leaks from a car there could be enough vapors for an explosion when the tank starts. They now have to have a device that ''smells'' the air before ignition occurs. Of course with the government involved it has to go on all gas fired tanks no matter where they are installed!:confused5:

Just had mine replaced last week.......It does not have any kind of "Safety" sensor,rather the pilot light is sealed to prevent an explosion.The pilot is lit via a piezo device...:)

Oh.....$700 installed and old one taken away

78SA

12-12-2011, 7:13pm

Ask Bart about tankless.

mrvette

12-12-2011, 8:15pm

Eh, about 7? years ago I moved my WH outside to an adjacent shed from the house...so it's electric and no sweat about leaks hurting the house...dirt floor....

225 buck GE from HD.....40 gallon with extra heat insulation wrap on it....

old one lasted some 5 years out there, so replaced as above about 2 years ago, should outlast me....

and there is NO reason it's not possible to move any attic WH installation, other than garage space...period, end of discussion....it's a silly 4 hour job....

:lol:

Yerf Dog

12-14-2011, 10:02am

Checked the serial number on my heater. Looks like it's a 1991.

20 years?!? :willy:

Time to make a call. :waiting:

Yerf Dog

12-24-2011, 10:46am

Made the call. My neighbor's brother is a plumber. He showed up yesterday and replaced my aging tank.

He said with the new tanks there's no need for a yearly flush. And my old tank, which I never flushed, had almost no sediment build up.

Must be the lake Michigan water.

Anyway, I'm good for ten years or so. :)

Bradford-White energy efficient something-something...

http://www.bradfordwhite.com/images/products/M-I-5036FBN.jpg