Gas Water Heaters

[reef tank 2.0]

I have been in my home now for a year and a half. Upon moving in, I knew I would need a new water heater. Fast forward to now, and my water heater is still alive and kicking. I am now considering replacing it before it goes kaput. I am really on borrowed time right now. it definitely needs to be brought up to code, and made "right". the cost to do all this, and install keeps having me put it off. If it were electric, I'd do it myself, but the gas makes me a tad nervous.

My water heater has a date on it of 1988. yes, 1988! That is not a typo. So 34 years old!!!! Regardless if it had a 6, 9, or whatever year warranty, I'd say this water heater has had a good long life.

which brings me to this next question............how long has your water heater lasted you before having to replace it? can anyone beat 34 years?

 

[homer1475]

My gas fired tankless water heater is currently 23 years old.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

sounds like the average lifespan of a water heater is not the 10-15 years they claim.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

The old type are better, aka not the sealed type, you can get a thermo coupling for sub 20 dollars, my new style (sealed) water heater the thermo coupling lasted a year, and the tank about 7 years. So the old ones are better, if it is not broke don't fix.

 

[Billdogg]

Gas water heater for me.

The one the contractor put in in 2001 when they built the place lasted all of 7 years or so and then started leaking. Luckily enough it was before I had finished the basement, so no harm, no foul. I replaced it with GE's best and paid extra for HD's "lifetime" warranty. The first problem I had with it was a about 3 years ago when it started leaking at the cold water input. The genius who installed it used a iron fitting instead of the dielectric fitting he should have. No surprisingly, it corroded and developed a slow leak that I didn't find until I went squish in the carpet some 30 feet away. In my now finished basement. Statefarm paid rotorooter and sent me a check for over $5000 in damages. I was thinking of remodeling the basement anyway, so this was my chance to redo things. The wifes craft room went from 400 to 950sf, my woodshop went from less than 400 to 1200sf. (ranch with full basement). About 3 months ago the tank itself started to leak, all of 18" from the new (waterproof) laminate in the craft room. HD gave me almost full credit towards another WH, and I had a friend install it for me. Hopefully it will outlast me!!!