<< Back to all Blogs
Login or Create your own free blog
Layout:
Home > Water Heater Blues

Water Heater Blues

October 16th, 2011 at 12:54 am

Our water heater started making weird noises about 2 hours ago..and about an hour ago, started dripping water.

Seems it has worn out...or rusted out or something. We called the plumber and he said that water heaters only last 7-8 years. He told us what to do to shut things off. He isn't sure if he can't get to us immediately because the company they buy water heaters don't like to answer their phones "after hours" because he said they said they didn't like getting calls from plumbers in the middle of the night.

Well, what's wrong with that picture? Does this company think that the plumbers purposely wait until the middle of the night to call for a water heater because they like getting calls in the middle of the night? I would assume that if a plumber is calling in the middle of the night it is because a customer called them.

Anyway, I had read in Consumer Reports that water heaters normally last 18-20 years. Ours lasted 13. The plumber said that for a water heater that is really longer that it should have, because most only last 7-8.

Well, you know where our money will be going...

Posted in Ramblings and nonsensical chatter | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Water Heater Blues”

  1. marvholly Says:
    October 16th, 2011 at 10:18 am 1318760331
    1318760331

    I KNOW my water heater is >7-8 y/o because DH passed 8 years ago & I have NOT had to replace it, yet. I do have a handy guy who has been able to co a couple repairs on mine where most plumbers would have insisted on replacing.

    However, w/it leaking yours is GONE!!

    I believe 12-15 is more in line.

  2. PatientSaver Says:
    October 16th, 2011 at 12:53 pm 1318769624
    1318769624

    Like anything else, their lifespan varies widely, depending on the brand/model. You don't have to just take whatever water heater your plumber picks up. You can do your own research and tell him what you want him to buy.

    The best "budget" electric hot water heater, for example, is a Kenmore, according to this review site:
    http://www.consumersearch.com/water-heaters

  3. HouseHopeful Says:
    October 16th, 2011 at 02:41 pm 1318776085
    1318776085

    I replaced mine recently and in my research, i determined what PatientSaver said - lifespan varies widely

  4. creditcardfree Says:
    October 16th, 2011 at 03:04 pm 1318777448
    1318777448

    I was told by a plumber that the older models actually last longer than the newer ones because of how the older ones were made. He said not to replace until needed. I'm sure there is a wide variety of lifespans. Good luck getting it fixed soon!

  5. PatientSaver Says:
    October 16th, 2011 at 06:12 pm 1318788740
    1318788740

    Whatever one you end up with, one way to prolong its life is to (once or twice a year) put a bucket under the little handle at the bottom of the tank and drain out about a half gallon of the water. it's the water at the bottom that collects grit or rust and corrodes the essential parts. By draining out the dirtiest water at the bottom, you prolong the life of your water heater.

  6. rob62521 Says:
    October 16th, 2011 at 09:33 pm 1318800802
    1318800802

    Thanks for the tips!

Leave a Reply

(Note: If you were logged in, we could automatically fill in these fields for you.)
*
Will not be published.
   

* Please spell out the number 4.  [ Why? ]

vB Code: You can use these tags: [b] [i] [u] [url] [email]